So, I bought a new MP3 player, and it plays movies. I want to put some of my existing DVD collection onto it, but I can only do that if the files are already on my computer. I want to know if there's a way I can get the DVD onto my computer somehow, or if that's not how it works. Help?

You can rip the the DVD to your computer but thats not really legal. Then convert the DVD file sinto a file system that your MP3 supports such as .avi, .mp4 etc.

So how would I go about ripping the DVDs to my computer?

Heres a list of some rippers

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_ripper

make sure you know what video format your media player supports.

You can rip the the DVD to your computer but thats not really legal. Then convert the DVD file sinto a file system that your MP3 supports such as .avi, .mp4 etc.

 

 

 

The legal status in most countries is still "undecided", but you can currently rip DVD's for personal use only (which doesn't include selling them forwards or lending to your friends) under fair use.

 

 

 

It's a very debated issue and there are a couple of trials in the US going on: http://www.physorg.com/news93862605.html

 

 

 

It's questionable if companies have the right to implement software in the future that would require paying for each copy you make, going against 1st Amendment rights guaranteed to all citizens.

 

 

 

If you believe it is legal in your jurisdiction (as it varies VERY much from country to country), you can use a program such as DVD decrypter.

 

 

 

As said, it's not as black & white as it may seem at first. It's a totally gray area as of November 2008, do you due diligence if in doubt.

Thanks, the help is much appreciated.

Be careful when getting a ripper; I swear that a good third of them are illegitimate.

The best one I've used was DVD Decrypter.

 

But as the posters above me have stated is is illegal in some places.

 

 

 

O and without your MP3/4 player has a lot of memory you won't be able to fit many full DVD's on there.