Best way to backup DVD collection

jh wrote:


No big deal but, "anyways" is not a word.

Thanks for the heads up. I hate when I do that. And in the tradition of
nitpicking spelling and grammer on usenet...

You misused the comma; it's neither required nor correct in that
sentence.

cheers,

42 wrote in message news:[email protected]
Darren Harris wrote:
42 wrote in message news:X%[email protected]

Robert L. Bass wrote:

What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?


The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.
There's another issue here as well though. It is becoming apparent that CDs
and DVDs are not as indestructible as we were first led to believe. The
thin layer of aluminum can easily become pitted after a few years, rendering
the media all but unreadable. This can happen because the DVD is improperly
handled but that's not the only problem. The coating material on the
printed side of the disc is not always of uniform thickness. Often times it
is thin enough that normal use wears it through within a few years. For
these reasons it would probably be wise to make archival copies of media you
don't want to lose, especially anything that is out of print and not widely
circulated.

Same argument applies to books. Should we all be typing them into
computers and reading them off screens or photocopying them to preserve
the precious bio-degradable paper? Or should we just deal with the fact
that the medium is fragile and plan to replace them after years of use.

Nothing else we buy lasts forever... why does it offend so many people
that their dvds are no exception. VHS wore out, vinyl records wore out,
cassettes and 8-tracks wore out... it wasn't the end of the world
then... its not the end of the world now.


The same argument does not apply to books. I've never worn out a book.

Then you didn't have a normal normal healthy childhood, you've never
taken a book to the beach, owned dogs... etc

That made no since whatsoever.

Books are more durable. I would not have to read a book as many times
as I'd play a game disk. Books don't degrade over time like DVDs and
CDs.

Apparently you don't read books either. They fade under light, yellow
and dry with age, and disintegrate with moisture...

Let me repeat. Books don't degrade over time like DVDs and CDs.

The fragility of DVDs and CDs makes them more valuable and prime
candidates for backing up.

No. They are 'prime candidates for backing up' by virtue of the fact
that it is 'easy'. You'd back up your books, paintings, and your living
room furniture if it were as easy.

No. And DVDs and CDs are prime candidates for backing up because they
degrade a lot faster than books.

If its *irreplaceable* sure. But if its 14.99 at the video store,
just
buy another one.... its cheaper than the sealed light proof
containers... and its not vulnerable to fire and theft either.


Or nuclear explosions. What's your point?

Theives and Fires and Floods don't sort through your stuff only taking
one of any item... and they're quite a bit more common than nukes.

What's your point?

The odds of losing two of
something is a lot less than losing one.

Not if they're in the same physical building. Then the odds are only
modestly less.

Yeah? Lets see your research and documentation.

Nevertheless, a DVD or CD that is handled often is more apt to get
damaged as opposed to a back-up copy stored away. This is the reason
I'd back up. The reason you've been trying to ignore.

And why spend another $14.99
on something that you already purchased?

1) By the time that time rolls around DVD++ will be out, and I'll be
'upgrading' my collection anyways.

Well, unlike you, I intend to look for any way not to buy the same
movies all over again just because a new format is out. VCRs are still
made, and I haven't purchased any DVD movies that I already have on
VHS tape.

2) 3 times out of 4 I'd probably rather spend that 14.99 on something
new rather than replace what I lost anyways...

That would be your perogative.

That is, if you could find it
again. And it makes no sense to say that it is cheaper than
light-proof containers. The number of DVDs you can put in a container
would be a lot more valuable than the container itself.

Oh, I thought we were putting them in containers that were a little
more
durable than plastic bins. But yeah... even so... 'good' containers
aren't *that* expensive... but after you add up the cost of
containers,
blanks, and the time blown doing it...

Your sentence trailed off. What's your point?

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Nevertheless, a DVD or CD that is handled often is more apt to get
damaged as opposed to a back-up copy stored away. This is the reason
I'd back up. The reason you've been trying to ignore.

No, I'm not trying to ignore it, its a silly reason. I have over 1000
CDs and I've scratched or otherwise wrecked or misplaced around 20 of
them over the last 20 years. It hasn't been a significant expense to
replace them. Certainly not to make it worth spending the better part of
a 1000+ hours making backups.

Further the majority of the 'damage incidents' occured in my car. I
upgraded to mp3 in the car a few years ago and have been fine ever since.

So mishandling isn't a serious concern... unless you *really* abuse
them... but then the solution would be to learn to take better care of them.

And backups won't likely make much difference in theft, fires and other
disasters... and insurance will be in play anyway.

So I conclude there is no compelling reason to need to make backups.

1) By the time that time rolls around DVD++ will be out, and I'll be
'upgrading' my collection anyways.

Well, unlike you, I intend to look for any way not to buy the same
movies all over again just because a new format is out. VCRs are still
made, and I haven't purchased any DVD movies that I already have on
VHS tape.

And that is your perogative. I haven't watched a VHS in over a year now.


Your sentence trailed off. What's your point?

/shrug

The sentence was complete as it was. If you can't see the point then you
don't want to see it.

42 wrote in news:[email protected]:

jh wrote:


No big deal but, "anyways" is not a word.

Thanks for the heads up. I hate when I do that. And in the tradition of
nitpicking spelling and grammer on usenet...

You misused the comma; it's neither required nor correct in that
sentence.


Thanks!


--
Jim H

42 wrote in message news:[email protected]
Nevertheless, a DVD or CD that is handled often is more apt to get
damaged as opposed to a back-up copy stored away. This is the reason
I'd back up. The reason you've been trying to ignore.

No, I'm not trying to ignore it, its a silly reason. I have over 1000
CDs and I've scratched or otherwise wrecked or misplaced around 20 of
them over the last 20 years. It hasn't been a significant expense to
replace them. Certainly not to make it worth spending the better part of
a 1000+ hours making backups.

Further the majority of the 'damage incidents' occured in my car. I
upgraded to mp3 in the car a few years ago and have been fine ever since.

So mishandling isn't a serious concern... unless you *really* abuse
them... but then the solution would be to learn to take better care of them.

And backups won't likely make much difference in theft, fires and other
disasters... and insurance will be in play anyway.

So I conclude there is no compelling reason to need to make backups.

And you are stillwrong. All of that means nothing. If you don't wnat
to back up, then that is your perogative. But to say that there is no
reason for someone else to seek the piece of mind that comes with
backing up their collection is wrong. It doesn't make any difference
how many DVDs or CDs are involved. If I want to back up picture disks
with family photos, who are you to say that there is no compellng
reason to.

1) By the time that time rolls around DVD++ will be out, and I'll be
'upgrading' my collection anyways.

Well, unlike you, I intend to look for any way not to buy the same
movies all over again just because a new format is out. VCRs are still
made, and I haven't purchased any DVD movies that I already have on
VHS tape.

And that is your perogative. I haven't watched a VHS in over a year now.


Your sentence trailed off. What's your point?

/shrug

The sentence was complete as it was. If you can't see the point then you
don't want to see it.

There was no point.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Darren Harris wrote:


And you are stillwrong. All of that means nothing. If you don't wnat
to back up, then that is your perogative. But to say that there is no
reason for someone else to seek the piece of mind that comes with
backing up their collection is wrong.

Not wrong, just not sensible. Backing up your music and video collection
is time consuming and costly. The odds of there being a positive return
on that investment is negligable. In other words odds are you are
wasting that time and money.

It doesn't make any difference
how many DVDs or CDs are involved. If I want to back up picture disks
with family photos, who are you to say that there is no compellng
reason to.

That's a strawman argument. We aren't discussing your picture discs. We
are discussing backing up regular bought movies and CDs.

If you'd like to discuss backing up your personal data we can do that,
but its a different topic, and irrelevant here. Please don't try to
confuse the issue by trying to include personal data, its self evident
that it needs to be held to different standards for backups then your
collection of Van Damme flicks and Britney Spears albums.


The sentence was complete as it was. If you can't see the point then you
don't want to see it.


There was no point.

/shrug
I'd try a little harder. But if that's what makes you happy, beleive that.

On Mon, 17 May 2004 00:14:42 GMT, 42 wrote:

Darren Harris wrote:


And you are stillwrong. All of that means nothing. If you don't wnat
to back up, then that is your perogative. But to say that there is no
reason for someone else to seek the piece of mind that comes with
backing up their collection is wrong.

Not wrong, just not sensible. Backing up your music and video collection
is time consuming and costly. The odds of there being a positive return
on that investment is negligable. In other words odds are you are
wasting that time and money.

Not if you only backup what's likely to be damaged, like kids movies.


It doesn't make any difference
how many DVDs or CDs are involved. If I want to back up picture disks
with family photos, who are you to say that there is no compellng
reason to.

That's a strawman argument. We aren't discussing your picture discs. We
are discussing backing up regular bought movies and CDs.

If you'd like to discuss backing up your personal data we can do that,
but its a different topic, and irrelevant here. Please don't try to
confuse the issue by trying to include personal data, its self evident
that it needs to be held to different standards for backups then your
collection of Van Damme flicks and Britney Spears albums.




The sentence was complete as it was. If you can't see the point then you
don't want to see it.


There was no point.

/shrug
I'd try a little harder. But if that's what makes you happy, beleive that.

Not wrong, just not sensible. Backing up your music and video collection
is time consuming and costly. The odds of there being a positive return
on that investment is negligable. In other words odds are you are
wasting that time and money.

Wrong again. *I* decide whether or not my time and money is wasted.
Not you. And again, good reasons were given for backing up that have
nothing to do with illegal copying. Admit it.

It doesn't make any difference
how many DVDs or CDs are involved. If I want to back up picture disks
with family photos, who are you to say that there is no compellng
reason to.

That's a strawman argument. We aren't discussing your picture discs. We
are discussing backing up regular bought movies and CDs.

Wrong again. The original poster never said what was on the DVDs.

If you'd like to discuss backing up your personal data we can do that,
but its a different topic, and irrelevant here. Please don't try to
confuse the issue by trying to include personal data, its self evident
that it needs to be held to different standards for backups then your
collection of Van Damme flicks and Britney Spears albums.

You're still wrong, because since I can burn jpegs(and family videos)
to *DVDs*, as well as movies, what I said is correct. And *I* decide
what standards to hold what to, and what I consider valuable when it
comes to what I have. Not you.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

(Darren Harris) wrote in
om:

It doesn't make any difference
how many DVDs or CDs are involved. If I want to back up picture
disks with family photos, who are you to say that there is no
compellng reason to.

That's a strawman argument. We aren't discussing your picture discs.
We are discussing backing up regular bought movies and CDs.

Wrong again. The original poster never said what was on the DVDs.

Yes he did. Here is part of his post -

After recently having a bunch of DVDs stolen from my place,
I've decided that I want to back up my entire collection.
Luckily the ones that were taken were easily replaceable,
but I realized I'd be really depressed if some of my rarer
and favorite movies were lost or damaged somehow.

My question is, what is the best way to back them up?
I'm pricing DVD burners at the moment. From what I can
tell, software is the big question though. I know DVD X
Copy is the big name, but they're getting sued and can't
include the decryption code in the package anymore.
What's the most effective and cost-effective alternative?

Notice how he mentioned Movies, and went on to express his interest in a
package that can deal with encrypted content. You are now trying to
change the nature of the discussion. If you'd like to concede the
argument with regard to studio production content and move on to a
discussion of personal content, then you should be more clear about it.

--
JH

Darren Harris wrote:
Not wrong, just not sensible. Backing up your music and video collection
is time consuming and costly. The odds of there being a positive return
on that investment is negligable. In other words odds are you are
wasting that time and money.


Wrong again. *I* decide whether or not my time and money is wasted.
Not you. And again, good reasons were given for backing up that have
nothing to do with illegal copying. Admit it.

The OP asked for recommendations on archiving his entire collection of
DVDs; based on the fact that he'd lost a few regular (non-home-video)
movies.

My recommendation is that its a waste of money. That he's better off
putting the money into bonds and collecting interest against the day
when he loses a few; and to make an insurance claim in the event he
loses them all.

If he didn't want *my* assessment of what the best way of preserving his
collection would be, and what is a waste of time and money in that
pursuit... he wouldn't have publically asked for it.

If *your* assessment is that he should backup everything in triplicate
stored in sealed underground vaults scattered throughout the country
that is *your* perogative. Feel free to make that recommendation.

But *I* think its a waste of money in the long run even to make backups
of every bought movie I own and store them in my garage. I'm also
confident that if you do the analysis you'd find that I'm right.


Wrong again. The original poster never said what was on the DVDs.

As has been highlited elsewhere in this thread. Yes he did, and they
were regular production movies.

You're still wrong, because since I can burn jpegs(and family videos)
to *DVDs*, as well as movies, what I said is correct. And *I* decide
what standards to hold what to, and what I consider valuable when it
comes to what I have. Not you.

I and the OP were talking about bought movies and by extension bought
albums... and you are again talking about family videos and your photo
cds... they are categorically different. No one disputes that personal
data needs to be held to higher standards. It *is* irreplacable, so to
some extent its priceless.

Conversely Batman Returns is 9.99, and that's only *if* you need to
replace it before DVD is a dead technology. Clearly the standards for
backups should be different.