So I am starting to collect more and more 4k bluray plus 3D bluray and so want to back them up to an external and be able to play them via plex.
However, I am not sure if you can get bargain prices on the items required.
Can you get a UHD bluray reader for PC as cheap as a DVD reader or even the 4K software cheap these days?
Is it worth even ripping 4K/bluray(about 20 to 30) to back up to hard disk or cheaper just to buy the 4k itunes version as a back up instead when on sale?
Google backup blu-ray and start reading.
It will take a number of weeks for you to figure out the process and get it right, but once you do then you "just" repeat the process for each blu-ray.
As for cost you will need a blu-ray writer starts at about $85. The UHD and 3D are both readable on a standard blu-ray reader as it's the software on the PC that processes the files on the blu-ray "just" like DVD's.
You will need a bucket load of HDD space and the processing time will depend on your PC as it takes allot of grunt to do the conversion to H265.
Ok sounds like its going to be more costly and time consuming from the past DVD ripping days of single sided 4.7gb.
Might be better just to wait for same to go on sale at itunes if want digital backup.
If you've got a PC that has a 5.25" drive bay buy a $89 Blu-Ray XL Drive (do research on what models work for ripping UHD discs) -> load correct firmware (do research on various forums on this) -> backup the disc using MakeMKV to create a copy - this software is free while it remains in beta (though not all UHD discs will be able to be ripped, particularly newer movies with the latest security)
About $200 for a player, software can be everything from free to small cost, storage drives will be required and if you don't want compression then will need plenty of it. There's countless quality settings to trial and error & the whole legality of it. It's not really worth the effort for 20-30 discs.