Best way to convert iso files (movies) to a smaller file

I want to watch my movies on my TV from a external hard drive. To maximize drive space how should I convert movies to smallest size and what device would best suit my needs. I have heard about the Western Digital TV Live Plus HD Media Player. I have about 250 movies I would like to keep on file without the need to look for and load a DVD player. Any help would be appreciated

Use Handbrake.

with realplayer you can convert your movies to a different size but iso is kind of like a container the movie files are in it you will need to mount the iso using magic iso then change the format you will need to play with the settings realplayer will let you queue up several movies so you can do it overnight

DVDShrink might be of help to you.

OP, easiest or best? Best is far from easy.

Quote from brbubba : OP, easiest or best? Best is far from easy.

OK easiest. I have a 1tb external hard drive and like I said would like to put at least 250 movies on it. Most iso files are 4.35gb if I could get them to 2gb or less that would help. I don't know what file to use or what media player would be (EASIEST)

Quote from .DC. : DVDShrink might be of help to you.

I have both shrink and dvdfab

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/.../handbrake USE handbrake its free and there are TONS of writeups

Quote from bobbyboshay : I have both shrink and dvdfab

Shrink makes them smaller...how small and quality are up to you to decide.

The easiest way to solve this is to pay someone to do it for you...

cost effective...No...Easy...Hell yeah.

I use the same programs you do, DVDFab and DVDShrink. With Shrink, you can compress the files down smaller, but the further you go, the more quality suffers. I have been able to compress down to roughly 60% without much loss, but have never pushed it firther than that.

For the device, I use a modded WDTV Live (running B-Rad's WDLXTV and also Moviesheets+) and it suits my needs well. However, if I were purchasing a new device at this time, I would most likely be torn between the WDTV Live HUB and the Boxee Box. Both have their issues (which you can read about over at AVS Forum), but they each have their pluses too.

Handbrake and DVDFab are very good, also look into MakeMKV

http://www.makemkv.com/

convert-dvds-and-iso-files-to-mkv-with-makemkv [howtogeek.com]

Quote from bobbyboshay : OK easiest. I have a 1tb external hard drive and like I said would like to put at least 250 movies on it. Most iso files are 4.35gb if I could get them to 2gb or less that would help. I don't know what file to use or what media player would be (EASIEST)

As others have stated I would play with DVD shrink first to see if you can get it to a size you like. If you need an even smaller size then start looking at Handbrake.

Use handbrake to load the video and convert it. I've used standard settings and most of my DVD movies convert down to about 1 to 1.5 GB each.