Ripping TV show DVDs vs buying HD from iTunes?

[alFR]

So, if you wanted to buy a TV series (e.g. BSG) to be able to play it on your iPhone and Apple TV, which would you do? Buy the DVDs (assuming Blu-Ray is off-limits - I don't have a BR player) and rip them/convert with HB, or buy the HD versions from iTunes?

Given how much time it takes to rip, encode and tag a whole series I'm inclined to start buying from iTunes despite the higher cost, but I was curious to see what other MR members thought. Does the iTunes HD quality equal that of a HB-converted DVD using the Apple TV preset?

 

[Scarpad]

So, if you wanted to buy a TV series (e.g. BSG) to be able to play it on your iPhone and Apple TV, which would you do? Buy the DVDs (assuming Blu-Ray is off-limits - I don't have a BR player) and rip them/convert with HB, or buy the HD versions from iTunes?

Given how much time it takes to rip, encode and tag a whole series I'm inclined to start buying from iTunes despite the higher cost, but I was curious to see what other MR members thought. Does the iTunes HD quality equal that of a HB-converted DVD using the Apple TV preset?

Itunes prices have been getting better, some series like the recently released s2 and s3 of Deep Space Nine was released at 12.99 a season, that's a great deal, others will be comparable to the dvd when released, so It depends how much you want a physical copy, if you never plan to move away from an Ipod then you should be ok.

 

[basesloaded190]

So, if you wanted to buy a TV series (e.g. BSG) to be able to play it on your iPhone and Apple TV, which would you do? Buy the DVDs (assuming Blu-Ray is off-limits - I don't have a BR player) and rip them/convert with HB, or buy the HD versions from iTunes?

Given how much time it takes to rip, encode and tag a whole series I'm inclined to start buying from iTunes despite the higher cost, but I was curious to see what other MR members thought. Does the iTunes HD quality equal that of a HB-converted DVD using the Apple TV preset?

To answer your last question, With out a doubt the HD quality is better than a converted DVD. A lot of people may complain about the HD quality from itunes but it really is good. So if HD and simplicity are are worth the extra $20 or so than by all means use itunes

 

[NightStorm]

This is really the reason I buy season passes from iTunes... I eliminated my cable bill and pay a little more for the convenience and ownership of the HD versions. Otherwise, I would have paid twice (once for cable, and again to buy the seasons on DVD/Bluray).

 

[alFR]

It depends how much you want a physical copy, if you never plan to move away from an Ipod then you should be ok.

Interesting point that I'd not thought of, to be honest. I'd not really be bothered about a physical copy in itself, but I suppose I'd be effectively betting that there will always be an Apple-based media centre that will plug into my TV. Still, I suppose that's pretty likely - even if they drop the Apple TV, I suppose they'll always have the mini or equivalent that could be used as a HTPC.

To answer your last question, With out a doubt the HD quality is better than a converted DVD.

Good to know. I appreciate it's not going to be as good as Blu-Ray, but as long as it matches/exceeds a DVD rip I'd be pretty happy.

This is really the reason I buy season passes from iTunes... I eliminated my cable bill and pay a little more for the convenience and ownership of the HD versions.

We did the same, dropping our paid satellite subscription in favour of the UK's free satellite service. We don't watch masses of TV, so even buying the series we want to watch on iTunes should work out cheaper than the satellite feed.

 

[Scarpad]

I hope they always have some sort of bridge. I've played the video back thru Itunes, thru a pc and a mini connected to my tv and it's not great < Itunes itself is a fairly lousey media player. It looks far better on the ATV.

 

[TheVanLaing5150]

I've recently been encoding all my dvds through handrake and all new purchases have been through Itunes. I think it is the way to go, especially if Itunes is able to do streaming and a subscription service that will allow people to stop paying for cable and switch to this new method of distribution.

If you have an apple TV it makes total sense to dump everything either by encoding or rebuying through Itunes(if you have the internet bandwidth and money)

 

[omni]

Keep in mind when buying HD TV Shows from iTunes - you download 2 files, 1 in HD and another one in SD. I only bring this up if harddrive space is a concern. Handbrake recently has become amazing at quality and file size. shrug.

There is no real wrong answer - just what answer works best for you. I prefer to rip all my own stuff but I have bought things here and there from iTunes.