playing DVD images via USB port

[cbrylla]

I have loads of DVD images (VIDEO_TS folders) stored on my HDD, and, instead of burning hundreds of DVDs, I want to keep them on the drive and play them from there. So my questions are:

1. Is there any DVD player/recorder out there that can play VIDEO_TS folders via USB? (converting all to DIVX is not option since there is too much workload and quality loss)

2. Would it be better to get a Windows Media Centre? In that case, can it play the VIDEO_TS folders? (I have no experience with Windows Media Centre, but I would be happy if it has something like POWER DVD, which can read the IFO files.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

1. Nope. But you can get a Media center like the popcorn hour, see http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=11857. Or an old xbox with XBMC.

2. http://www.wictorwilen.se/Post/Watch-DVDs-in-VIDEO_TS-folders-on-Vista-Media-Center.aspx . Or you can use whatever htpc software if you build your own htpc, like xbmc, media portal, etc. But this will probably cost much more then a popcorn hour media center box.

[Krispy Kritter]

Unless I'm mistaken the new WD HD boxes handle images.