[zero1207]

does the powerbook G4 15" superdrive currently offered on the apple site have the capabilities to burn dvd backups of commercial movies right out of the box? is that the function of idvd, or is it just a make a dvd of your own movie footage and clips program? thanks for any feedback.

[eatinwokout]

idvd is usually for video editing as far as i know. if you want to make backups of your personal dvds you would have to create a disk image using the disk utility then burning it. you can use the disk utility to burn the disk image back to a blank dvd.

[zero1207]

thanks alot for the info

[Luca Rescigno]

That still won't really work. You can't just make an image with Disk Utility. To back up your video DVDs, you have to use something like Roxio Popcorn or DVD2oneX + MacTheRipper to remove encryption and compress the image to a size small enough to fit on a single-layer DVD-R. Most movies come on dual-layer DVDs, which hold 8.8 GB of data. But a DVD-R is only 4.4 GB, so you have to compress the data in order for it to fit.

iDVD is meant for just what you said - making DVDs of your own home movies.

[Ricky]

For me, it's a 3 step process just like Luca Rescigno mentioned.

Step 1: MacTheRipper(copies disc contents to your computer)

Step 2: DVD2oneX(compresses the disc down to DVD-R size)

Step 3: Toast 6 (burns the disc, just set it and forget it)

[ixus_123]

it's also worth noting that that this is illegal in some countries even if you own the DVD.

Take the UK for example, we dont hqave a fair use clause like the US, so really nothing is allowed to be copied but people have been making tapes from LPs for years, recording TV programs & radio shows so I wouldn't worry too much about - just be aware

[velodev]

I don't personally use this method but Toast released Popcorn. And although I haven't heard anything good about it, it is an all in one method. So if you are relatively new to ripping, compression, and burning DVD-9 to DVD-4 then I would suggest checking that out. You get a copy of Toast included.