Has anyone used their PS3 as a media server?

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I am trying to find info on doing this, but keep running into obstacles.

Here is what I want to do:

1. Install larger HD in my PS3 -- seems easy enough

2. Download movie to HD

3. Play the movie without having this disc.

Apparently, you can partition the HD to get both PS3 and an OS on the HD. But I am still not knowing how you can download movies.

I am thinking, what I'd have to do is buy a laptop computer, install an OS, download movies and then put that HD in my PS3. The next question is, whenever I want to download additional movies...will I have to remove the HD, install in a laptop computer, download the movie, then put the HD back in the PS3.

Is it possible to hook up a DVD (or even Blu-Ray) burner to a PS3 using USB? If I did have an O/S on there, could it "find" the burner and then use that drive to download movies?

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[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Well, I have a PS3, but most of the people also have a computer. I just have a PS3....no laptop or anything like that or internet.

Basically, it seems I would need the partition of the PS3 to "act" like a computer. It seems to be that if the PS3 could have a WIndows O/S, and the windows OS could download the movies to the HD of the PS3.....this would require me to buy a hard drive, an external DVD, and a copy of Windows.

Perhaps I am using the terminology incorrectly. Say I have a DVD and want to put it on a hard drive for later viewing, what is that called.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

You can use a program to pull it off the DVD, I have honestly never done it as when I tried it was a major project but I think one of the programs may be called DVDShrink?
As for a computer yes you would need one, the good thing about this is you could use a very mediocre PC to do what you need even something used like an older P4 which can be had for about $100 would work as you basically just need it for HD space.

Are you planning on downloading music and videos to play or are you just looking to rip fromDVD?

I guess rip? from DVD to hard drive.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I don't have the internet.

 

[John3000 10+ year member]

My wife got me one for an early anniversary gift, I primarily use it for gaming but will upgrade the HD one day. If you go onto youtube they have alot of vids to show you what you need to do in terms of adding software hardware.

If you use an external HD on the ps3 you have to format it to FAT32 so it can be recognized. Get teh internet man, ps3 and no internet does not mix. Apparently Vista and the PS3 don't mix either.