DVD conversion tools

[Churchill]

Ok chaps, I have a shed-load of DVDs that I wish to convert to Div-X (or better format if you have one to recommend) so that I can put them on my (optical drive-less) laptop for viewing while away from the comfort of my own loo-seat.

Please will you post your suggestions for a suitable utility? (preferably a free utility as I'm a developer and a Lancastrian which means I don't like paying for software...)

I have DVD-Shrink, DVDDecrypt etc. and am currently running Windows but do have access to Linux in a VM.

Cheers in advance,

Churchill

[FiveTimes]

I use DVDShrink to create an iso file.

Then transfer to either laptop or usb stick.

Then use Daemon Tools for mounting a virtual drive and bingo - you can watch the iso with standard DVD players

[doodab]

I mostly use avidemux for format conversions.

http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/

You could also give the (free) windows media encoder a go.

Changing containers (i.e. making an mpeg file containing the existing data stream) is fairly quick but transcoding (i.e. recompressing the data stream) can be time consuming, you'll want to use the most powerful machine you can find. That's true of any program you will use though. You can get GPU accelerated transcoders, they might be worth checking out if your card supports it.

[b0redom]

http://handbrake.fr/ <- The daddy + free

[stek]

http://handbrake.fr/ <- The daddy + free

WHS - tho naturally it works better on a Mac. VisualHub was good too if you can still find it - it is out there in the usual places.

[Spacecadet]

I use xilisoft DVD Ripper
It's not free but the GUI is simple and painless and it works without having to resort to googling.

[Churchill]

Thanks all!

[scooterscot]

http://handbrake.fr/ <- The daddy + free

WHS - with a zang a zip and a zoododeda, <thank you george>

[doodab]

BTW, if you don't need to conserve space or bandwidth, don't bother to transcode it. Aside from the time saved, you will get to watch in original DVD quality.

[PAH]

BTW, if you don't need to conserve space or bandwidth, don't bother to transcode it. Aside from the time saved, you will get to watch in original DVD quality.

Yeah, now disk space is so cheap and plentiful I too mainly stick to DVD-Shrink or DVDDecrypt.

Did at one time convert some to DivX/Xvid using AutoGK (when I had a media centre that couldn't handle large file sizes), but don't bother now in case I ever upgrade my TV to a 100" monster where every pixel counts.