DvdFab HD Decrypter to rip the DVD to your HDD. Then use Handbrake to convert the ripped files to mp4 (preferred over mkv).

http://www.dvdfab.com/hd-decrypter.htm

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/13516/co...-and-handbrake/

Depends on what bitrate you choose to encode the video to - higher bitrate, larger file - and the quality of the audio you choose to use.

.avi, for example, would be average quality at ~700mb per film/low bitrate mp3 audio, but most of the films I watch in .avi are pushing 2GB with AC3 audio (video bitrate maybe 1600-1800bps). You can convert your rips to .avi with something like AutoGK.

Typically compression is better with mp4, so take from that what you will.

Only reason i'd see a need for avi is for compatibility across devices including old,if that's not a requirement stick with the mkv or what the Rip man said & go mp4.

Same as the Ripper man i prefer avi at 2gb anything less is too painful on the eyes unless watched on a 20" crt the lcd's show up the wash effect etc real well..lol..

Ok now down to the nitty gritty in the end you have to decide whats right for you as you'll need to think about what the videos will be played on i.e hardware & whether said hardware can play it this may include if you are going to loan any out not all devices support all formats,avi xvid would be the most compatible followed by mp4.


Going to add vidcoder this is handbrake that has most of the guess work removed i spose would be the way to put it more importantly it allows manually setting output size which is how i prefer to do my encodes,how i workout what size i want is taking the whole movie size (movie has been cut at front & rear frames with dvd shrink to reduce crap i don't need leaving a little less required compression time & getting a bit better quality,well it most probably don't make much diff but it makes me feel better)then cut it in half so a 6gb movie i'd set around 3gb this allows 2200-2500 for video & the extra for 1:1 audio as i usually leave both audio streams in,so it'd be 5:1 + 2.0ch,my minimum file size would be 2.5gb tho i'd more than likely set the size for 3gb for all since it would require setting to many dvd's 1 by 1 manually,all it means is some will have higher bitrates than others ,the main thing is quality will be fine after all your using sd dvd that puts you on the back foot before you start,oh yeah the encoder i'd use is x264

best bet cut say a 500mb to 1gb piece of movie then fluff about with settings & encoders to get to the desired quality,if you find a movie is pixelated after encoding play it on the tv from whatever device then use i think it's a tv setting where you can soften the picture you'll find it'll smooth the movie out & at around say 6ft away the movie will look fine,by the way this is an avi xvid movie of 2gb that i'm think'n about while writing this,it looked pretty dam good better than i expected,i was sure it would be shit quality,so if you use mp4/mkv with x264 it will look dynamite at 3gb or should do

Compatibility is the only reason I can think of - I didn't express a personal opinion. I couldn't care less either way.