Why HTPC?

[Intergalacticbits]

I buy a lot of movies on Blu-ray disk and they often come with movie download codes. I've never used any of them because I can't stream but I started to wonder.

Is that what people use an HTPC for?

Can I legally download and store those movies I purchased on disk that come with movie codes onto an HTPC for viewing?

I live in the USA.

 

I don't have fast enough internet speeds in my area for any real movie streaming. I often can't even watch a 15 minute youtube video with it buffering 5 or more times before its over.

So much so that it is hard to watch at times.

 

I had tried Netflix a year or so ago. I found I couldn't stream anything in a quality that I thought was watchable. I could download but the download selection was very limited for me so I cancelled it after two months.

 

I've also had been looking for the first time at streaming boxes too but was frustrated to find out that none of them let you download the purchased movies for viewing.

I learned they are for streaming only.

 

So HTPC is the only thing I didn't know about that was available.

 

 

[nox_]

Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't really understand what HTPC has to do with it.

34 minutes ago, Intergalacticbits said:

Can I legally download and store those movies I purchased on disk that come with movie codes onto an HTPC for viewing?

Yes, you should be able to to that, but you don't need HTPC. any pc will do But if you have trouble streaming, those movies will take forever to download.

Edited January 21, 2020 by noxdeouroboros

[Intergalacticbits]

30 minutes ago, noxdeouroboros said:

Maybe I'm stupid, but I don't really understand what HTPC has to do with it.

 

My main pc right now is an HP laptop with about 700GB.

I'm wanting something with bigger storage for a lot of movies dedicated to my 4K TV just for movie watching.

 

My plan originally was to use an apple tv box but their support people told me they are for streaming only. So that ended that thought.

 

Also I checked out a movies anywhere code on one of my movies the other day and their support people told me those movie codes from that service are for streaming only.

 

I do have a load of other disks with codes from other companies though.

 

[nox_]

I must be extra stupid. Any pc is a htpc if you use it for that. You could even get an external hdd and store movies on that, you can also plug that hard drive into your TV I assume. Or build/get a desktop.

[Intergalacticbits]

18 minutes ago, noxdeouroboros said:

I must be extra stupid. Any pc is a htpc if you use it for that. You could even get an external hdd and store movies on that, you can also plug that hard drive into your TV I assume. Or build/get a desktop.

 

That is why I'm asking because I've never done it and the companies I've checked with so far say "NO the codes are for streaming only".

 

My understanding is that the companies that sell the codes on the disks have you use an app to access the movies. So you need a whole pc not just an external drive but like I said I've never done this before.

 

That is why I'm asking people to lay it out for me before I spend the money.  

I buy and watch a lot of movie disks that come with codes. It's my number one form of entertainment. 

[nox_]

7 minutes ago, Intergalacticbits said:

hat is why I'm asking because I've never done it and the companies I've checked with so far say "NO the codes are for streaming only".

 

My understanding is that the companies that sell the codes on the disks have you use an app to access the movies. So you need a whole pc not just an external drive but like I said I've never done this before.

I don't know about all codes, in my area there are some people who live in rural areas with terrible internet and there are some companies which provides disks and a code using which you can download.

You have a laptop, get an external drive, connect to your laptop and save those movies you downloaded on there. You might need the app of theirs to stream and to download the movies (if they provide such option that is) but you should be able to save those movies on the external drive and then plug it wherever you like to watch them. That's how it works where I live.

Edited January 21, 2020 by noxdeouroboros