I would advise it better to put onto DVD media ie like Verbatim for long term storage granted dvd media can be scratched or broken or warped but you reduce amount of scanning on the HDD for virus or malware. But the reason why they are on DVD are for portablility and flexiablilty. Plus dvd media are inexpensive so spend a little to store your library away. I do this. Also if the HDD goes out or crashes your out of luck to use your HDD. Granted it reduces the amount of lugage you have to carry around that the plus side for HDD. Remember each has a good and bad side to using the HDD or DVD media. So you have to ask your self how portable do you want to be or you watching at home player or computer player??? The reason the media are 4.7G or 8.4G is the amount of extra but compressing it reduces resolution that the scrafice you will take. Granted some programs will reudces but then you loose alot of control of FF or Skip functions related to player functions. VLC has good feature to play just the movies your rip from your media but for me I like to have the full dvd as is and I use WinDVD to play the dvd. I also buy a storage pouch to store all the backup dvd rather then using spindle that you buy the media from the electronics store at that will at least save on tear and wear on the media play surface. So in the end there is alot to factor into going portable and storage of media for longivity to keep enjoying your media for years to come. wheww...maybe other have more to add or edit....to what I said..