Question about Computers and stuff

Father Demon · October 27, 2005, 03:53:00 PM

I'm traveling way out of the country in December and January for about 4 or 5 weeks, and want to be able to take legitimate copies* of movies I have with me. However, I don't want to end up in jail either here or there because my legitimate* copies of movies happen to look a lot like pirated copies, and making customs mad at me.

So my solution is to find an external hard drive that is powered solely of the USB bus, and not an external AC source. And I don't want to pay a lot of money. Best Buy and Comp USA both have 80GB models available for about $200, which is too much money for me to spend on this.

Questions:
a) Is 80GB enough space for a dozen movies or so, or do a need more?
b) Has anyone ever put legitimate* copies of movies on one of these, and how do they look/sound?
c) What specs do I need to make sure I have so the movies work?
d) Any ideas on where to buy a hard drive like this?

* By legitimate, I mean as far as whitey knows, they are legitimate.

PhillyPhanInDC · October 27, 2005, 03:56:21 PM

Why go to all that trouble? Just get a standard IDE/Sata/SCSI HD, make a big ass partition drop your movies there, and then encrypt the partition using off the shelf software. I've been to Thailand several times, and bought tons of legitimate copies of music and movies, and have never had an issue with customs.

Father Demon · October 27, 2005, 03:59:55 PM

I should have mentioned -- my laptop is my work's laptop, so reconfiguing or adding a new internal hard drive isn't an option.

PhillyPhanInDC · October 27, 2005, 04:07:53 PM

Quote from: DemonchildrenOnTurf on October 27, 2005, 03:59:55 PM
I should have mentioned -- my laptop is my work's laptop, so reconfiguing or adding a new internal hard drive isn't an option.

Oh. Lemme look around, I'll find you something.

Wingspan · October 27, 2005, 04:11:18 PM

just bring the movies. custums isnt really going to give a crap about 12 DVD's

MURP · October 27, 2005, 04:18:38 PM

Quote from: PhillyPhaninDC on October 27, 2005, 03:56:21 PM
Why go to all that trouble? Just get a standard IDE/Sata/SCSI HD, make a big ass partition drop your movies there, and then encrypt the partition using off the shelf software.

Purple_Hayz · October 27, 2005, 04:22:23 PM

I also highly doubt that customs is going to start poking around in your laptop's files and slap the cuffs on you for having movies ripped to your HD. And DVDshrink is your friend.

PhillyPhanInDC · October 27, 2005, 04:28:04 PM

This should do the trick.

Add this is you are really paranoid.

I agree with everyone else though, unless you are coming back with hundreds of DVDs, you shouldn't have a problem. Remember to junk the DVD cases they come in, and put them in a CD binder. And use the DVD Shrink Purple_Hayz mentioned. You'll be money.

PhillyPhanInDC · October 27, 2005, 04:33:01 PM

Quote from: MURP on October 27, 2005, 04:18:38 PM
Quote from: PhillyPhaninDC on October 27, 2005, 03:56:21 PM
Why go to all that trouble? Just get a standard IDE/Sata/SCSI HD, make a big ass partition drop your movies there, and then encrypt the partition using off the shelf software.

He couldn't hold my nerd jock.

Susquehanna Birder · October 27, 2005, 06:21:07 PM

Dude, if I was taking a 4-5 week trip out of the country, I sure as hell wouldn't be worried about bringing a buttload of movies with me. Where are you going, Antarctica?

Sgt PSN · October 27, 2005, 06:35:56 PM

Quote from: MURP on October 27, 2005, 04:18:38 PM
Quote from: PhillyPhaninDC on October 27, 2005, 03:56:21 PM
Why go to all that trouble? Just get a standard IDE/Sata/SCSI HD, make a big ass partition drop your movies there, and then encrypt the partition using off the shelf software.

By the way.............

YOU'RE WELCOME!

mussa · October 27, 2005, 06:36:08 PM

Quote from: PhillyPhaninDC on October 27, 2005, 04:28:04 PM

This should do the trick.

Add this is you are really paranoid.

I agree with everyone else though, unless you are coming back with hundreds of DVDs, you shouldn't have a problem. Remember to junk the DVD cases they come in, and put them in a CD binder. And use the DVD Shrink Purple_Hayz mentioned. You'll be money.

Found the same hard drive cheaper:

http://www.pcmall.com/pcmall/shop/detail~dpno~273459.asp

im going to buy it also.

Father Demon · October 27, 2005, 11:21:37 PM

Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on October 27, 2005, 06:21:07 PM
Dude, if I was taking a 4-5 week trip out of the country, I sure as hell wouldn't be worried about bringing a buttload of movies with me. Where are you going, Antarctica?

Close. Northern Ukraine. In December and January. Everything there is in black and white, like in the old days. No, really....

Geowhizzer · October 27, 2005, 11:24:11 PM

Quote from: DemonchildrenOnTurf on October 27, 2005, 11:21:37 PM
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on October 27, 2005, 06:21:07 PM
Dude, if I was taking a 4-5 week trip out of the country, I sure as hell wouldn't be worried about bringing a buttload of movies with me. Where are you going, Antarctica?

Close. Northern Ukraine. In December and January. Everything there is in black and white, like in the old days. No, really....

Kiev?

Father Demon · October 27, 2005, 11:25:45 PM

Quote from: Geowhizzer on October 27, 2005, 11:24:11 PM
Quote from: DemonchildrenOnTurf on October 27, 2005, 11:21:37 PM
Quote from: Susquehanna Birder on October 27, 2005, 06:21:07 PM
Dude, if I was taking a 4-5 week trip out of the country, I sure as hell wouldn't be worried about bringing a buttload of movies with me. Where are you going, Antarctica?

Close. Northern Ukraine. In December and January. Everything there is in black and white, like in the old days. No, really....

Kiev?

More northerner...