Converting DVDs to a compress format and the easiest tools

[Neo]

Be peace and happiness upon you!

People,

I want to convert my DVDs into some compress format so that I could
load my videos from my HD. One option is DIVX but is there any other
format that is smaller in size and doesn't degrades that quality that
much. All I want is to enjoy my old videos and quality is important
but not that important.

And what ever format you recommend, which is the most easiest tool to
use? I have tried to use some tools but none were that easy to use. Is
it possible to use Windows Movie Maker to compress my videos and use
them crossplatform(I prefer not to install unnecessary apps)?

Free tools are more preferable. I am using Windows Xp Home SP2.

Thanks,
Fahad.

 

[dobey]

I guess it depends what size you want to end up with.

Most DivX movies I have seen are pretty good. Sometimes you need to adjust
the settings.

1.3GB looks quite good to me, 700 MB are quite watchable.

Any codec you use will suffer visual degradation if you have compression at
maximum, or set the resolution too low to begin with.

DivX is an mpg 4 video stream, as is XviD.

Maybe H.264 might suit your wants, but I believe this requires a powerful
processor to display movies smoothly, at least at higher resolutions.

I suggest you read some of the forums that deal specifically with avi
compression. they can probably help you get the most out of DivX, or choose
a better compressor.

Someone else will probably say this. This in not an XP question, so you have
the wrong group.