HandBrake
HandBrake is a free, open-source program that will take files from an unencrypted DVD, as well as other high quality video sources, and convert them into mpeg4 videos. This includes the “h.264″ version of mpeg4 which is of very high quality and at lower bit-rates. In other words, you can start with a DVD movie that is 4GB in size and convert it to a file that looks as good in terms of quality and is only 1.5GB in size. These smaller files can then be played back from a computer using QuickTime, or in one of our favorite programs VLC Player. They could also be played in a web page with the new Flash player which supports h.264 in addition to flash video (flv). This program is available for both the Mac and the PC.
Official handBrake website
CDBurner XP
CDBurner XP is a free, Windows only program that allows you to burn data files to CDs and DVDs. Similar to the commercial programs such as Roxio (Roxio Toast is available for the Mac) or Nero, you can also create audio CDs, create and burn ISO images (an ISO image would be a multiple file disc saved as a single file), and create bootable discs. There is an equivalent free Mac program is called Burn.
Latest version of CDBurner XP
courtesy of FileHippo.com
