[ez1216]

Is it possible to rip DVD's either onto my HD (I have an ibook G4 with a 60 GB HD) or onto the iPod video directly using a method or program other than handbrake? I have it, but like other people have said, the audio doesn't always work (aac format). Also, since handbrake takes a couple hours to rip, I heard that leaving the dvd in the computer for that long isn't good for the drive. Is this true? Thanks a lot.

[mduell]

Rip it to your iBook's drive with MacTheRipper, then use another program like Quicktime Pro to reencode it for the iPod.

[icruise]

I don't think QuickTime Pro will convert MPEG-2 without the MPEG-2 playback component (another $20 on top of the QT Pro price). Plus it would be glacially slow, especially on an iBook. You can rip with MacTheRipper and then use handbrake on the ripped files though.

[Mastrap]

And the plural of DVD is DVDs, not DVD's /nitpick

[icruise]

Well, not really. While one of my pet peeves is incorrect apostrophe usage, using an apostrophe between an abbreviation like DVD and the plural "s" is acceptable. I don't like it myself, but it's not wrong.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by Icruise

Well, not really. While one of my pet peeves is incorrect apostrophe usage, using an apostrophe between an abbreviation like DVD and the plural "s" is acceptable. I don't like it myself, but it's not wrong.

It depends on how you look at it. The rule is to use an apostrophe only when making a single letter plural (e.g., A's and B's). Even that can be avoided if you have access to italics (i.e., As and Bs). However, language is fluid. Frequent misuses have made things like "DVD's" acceptable to many. Unfortunately, abominations like "I have two cat's" will one day be accepted. We're fighting a losing battle, but I'm still not quitting. Neither is Bob:

[ez1216]

Thanks for the help and the grammar lesson, but does anyone know if leaving the disc in computer while ripping is bad for the drive?

[lavar78]

Generally, you want the time the disc is spinning to be minimized.

[bradoesch]

Originally Posted by ez1216

Thanks for the help and the grammar lesson, but does anyone know if leaving the disc in computer while ripping is bad for the drive?

It's wear and tear on the drive and that's really it. If the drive has a normal life span it'll be working after you're done with the iBook.

Think about playing DVDs, which the drive is designed to do. The disc spins for the entire runtime of the movie.

[wilsonng]

like mduell said, just use MacTheRipper to rip to your hard drive. When you open Handbrake, you can select "DVD Folder / Image". Then navigate to your hard drive and select the VIDEO_TS folder that was just ripped. Click "Open" and Handbrake will read the VIDEO_TS directory. Then rip to your heart's desire.