Strange Question (Work Related)

This one is odd, but just go with it.

We have a client, and that client is in the media (movies, music) business.

For a current project, we're trying to understand more about how people manage media (CD's, DVD, Blu-Ray, Games, VHS, 8 Track, Cassettes, Digital Downloads, etc.) that they own.

Basically, where do you keep it? On display? In a box? In a corner? Secured with locks?

We're collecting pictures and written descriptions. PM me if you want to email something.

CDs and DVDs are on racks next to the player. Some cassettes are in wife's room of doom,,,uh her sewing room.

CDs, DVDs, Minidisc (remember them) and Media downloads (Such as Youtube videos etc) are sampled/recoded/downloaded on to a PC based RAID HD download server then backed up onto a WD passport drive. The WD passport drive is then connected to a WD media player, which is connected to the TV and sound system for playback. Same thing is again done with a portable Archos media player. The actually media is kept (thrown in) in a plastic storage box kept in a bedroom cupboard.

Blu-Ray is slightly more annoying as this requires a dedicated player connected to the TV and the discs require putting the shiny disc into the player one at a time.

What's an 8 track, VHS or Cassette? Its been a while since I've been in the roof loft.

CDs are packed away in boxes stored undder the bed. They've all been ripped to iTunes.

DVD's are in a Rubbermade tote stored in the cabinet under the TV. They still get used.

-Blast

The fast majority are in a cabinet out of view. The ones used most often (adult and kids) are in a large case logic DVD/CD binder near the tv.

Been attempting to back up all DVD's on an external hard drive.

Be that as it may, while my son will watch Star Wars movies on continuous loop, I am very much a visual viewer and often need to be inspired by a picture (cover art, disc art) in order to watch something.

My CDs - some in a box in my study, some in a box in the trunk of my car.

Her CDs- anywhere in the house (except my study or the garage).

My DVDs - none.

Her DVDs - in a cabinet in the same room as the DVD player AND anywhere.

She's rearranged the gear often enough that I don't know how to make the DVD player (s?) go anymore.

It takes 3 remotes just to watch TV.

MP3's are stored on a server in my basement and each of us copies what we like to our own laptop. But the rule is anything to rip, buy or download is supposed to go into an organized folder on the server, which is backed-up using Carbonite.

We haven't bought CD's in years. All the CD's we own have been ripped and are now stored in Rubbermaid tubs on a shelf in the basement storage area.

Any VHS worth keeping was burned to DVD before being sold (commercial) or sealed in a Rubbermaid tub (family movies).

DVDs are stored in DVD storage cabinets in the family room. Except for the few that are stashed in the back of my sock drawer.

Movies, on the shelf. Music, ripped to my computer (for personal use) and stored behind the movies.

DVDs, VCR tapes, and CDs ride in a rack by the player they are most likely to be used in. Cassettes, yes I still have a bunch, even as they don't get used much, sit in a wooden box. Vinyl records, sit in a crate ready to use even as as I no longer have a player. Eight-tracks, the six or eight remaining, are in a box that I have lost track of. Might be in the closet.

I don't remember where the wax cylinders and player piano scrolls went.

I let the thrift store down the street manage my media. They seem to have millions of the items you mentioned. I go in there every now and then, see something I'm interested in, spend a buck on it, use it for awhile, take it back and donate it. As time goes on, truthfully I'm finding less and less use for the stuff. Getting old, I guess. ;-)

Thank you for this thread. I have old VHS tapes that I don't watch anymore. All the movies can be rented on DVD. I have been planning to recycle my old VHS. I got rid of all my cassette tapes and cassette player along time ago. The same goes with vinyl albums. Eight tracks were before my time. I imagine CD's and DVD will soon undergo the same type of death as their older relatives.

As a practical matter, all my working media is located between my computer's hard drive, an external hard drive, CD's, DVD's and a remote online backup system. The CD's and DVD's are slowly receiving less and less usage. I don't yet own a Blu-ray player. Hopefully, I'll be able to skip that and download Blu-ray media straight from the Internet to an HDTV. Generally, discs are becoming a cumbersome, outdated way of dealing with media.

Don't give up on those VHS tapes too soon. My local library has gone into DVDs, and a lot of people focus on borrowing them exclusively, but they still have an extensive collection of VHS tapes that get far less use. Lots of good stuff.

I've borrowed episodes of Red Dwarf and a load of westerns on VHS. They are fun and easy to exercise to. Laughing while exercising increases the aerobic effort. Its all good.