Looking for recommendations on digitization methods

[achira]

I started using Vudu a while back, and the other day I was looking at what WalMart would charge me to digitize my dvd collection via Vudu. It doesn't seem like it would cost that much($2-5 per dvd, depending on format), it does add up and they don't actually allow you to convert all of your titles since they don't have all of the studios on board yet.

I started wondering if I I should just digitize my collection on my own- but the process seems a bit convoluted to me (I was told to use DVD Decrypter and Rip It For Me for the initial rip, DVD Shrink to clean up the data a bit/sync audio/video, and then AutoGK to convert it to AVI format).

Also I was looking at putting them all on an external hdd and hooking that up directly to my smart tv, but from what I'm reading this fails after a few months and you have to reformat the drive and start over (which may be specific to my own tv model/brand only, I'm not sure).

So. I have an extra PC and the hardware is actually small enough to fit into an HTPC case(with perhaps the exception of the video card but that's easy enough to fix), but I'm back staring at the process and wondering- is there an easier way to digitize my own dvds? The software doesn't have to be free, but I'd rather get some advice on other people's experiences before moving forward with this project (plus I have some time on my hands while this hard drive re-formats).

I don't really want to just do a cloud external hdd storage option because I would like the flexibility to expand to possibly include tv tuners and a dvr-type option.

TIA for the advice!

[Tajin]

I'd get a bunch of 1TB drives and just rip to ISO my entire collection.

[SephYuyX]

I have just done this same thing the past month or so, well over 500 DVDs of anime/film.

AnyDVD to decode. Handbrake to rip.
Direct ISO rip is usualy a waste of space. Ripping with Handbrake at a quality of 19 is exactly the same but at a total of 1~2gb instead of 4gb+

I use a small form desktop (which is connected to my TV) and just hook up external HDDs to it.

[chiyio]

handbrake to encode for sure. If you're looking for a free dvd ripper you can use http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_Decrypter

[kuronosan]

I use MakeMKV.