So we loaded up Linux on the server, fitted it with a nice large extra hard drive which we happened to have lying around (40Gb; the existing internal drive was 15Gb), and started converting CDs to MP3s. (Yes, I know that Ogg is considered a "better" format. However, my in-car CD player handles MP3s and wouldn't know what to do with Ogg if it were handed an instruction manual.)
This is, obviously, an ongoing project. I had several gig of converted CDs on my laptop, as did
And yes, those of you who are paying close attention may have noticed that (25Gb * 2) + 13Gb (Live Aid) > 15Gb (original disk) + 40Gb (extra disk). Yup -- going to have to go and buy something larger....
If nothing else, this has brought home to me quite what a