DVD Burner

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Sep 11, 2004 | 11:55 AM

christaylor

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 1,619

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From: Forest Hill MD

DVD Burner

Got a new laptop (last one was stolen). It is a Gateway with a lot of features including a DVD burner. I know this is probably a dumb question but what "great things" can I do with this and what is a good program for legally copying DVDs (personal collection) for my son to take in the car.

Thanks
Chris

Sep 11, 2004 | 02:06 PM

ryaneverk2

Logistics Pro

Joined: Mar 2004

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If you have a digital video camcorder, you can import the digital video to your laptop, and then edit it however you want, then burn it to a DVD to have as like a "home movie" or to give to relatives. Also, DVD's hold a ton, so they're great for backing up ALL your stuff... only need one disc.

Sorry but I don't know of any good programs for copying DVD's...

Sep 11, 2004 | 02:44 PM

kingfish51

Posting Guru

Joined: Dec 2003

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I am using Intervideo DVDcopy 2 to copy DVD's to another DVD or to a mpeg/avi.
Sony Screenblast Movie studio to edit mpegs/avi.
Roxio Media Creator to create DVDs from mpegs/avi.
To convert VHS to mpeg for creating DVDs you will need some additional hardware. This is a converter that you plug the AV cables from a VCR/video camera into and in outputs a USB signal for making the mpeg. It also includes some software. Prices for this starts at about $100 and goes up. Hopefully you have a large hard drive as videos take a lot of space. A regular DVD is 4.7gb and will hold less than 2 hours of video.

Sep 11, 2004 | 11:08 PM

fn250

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 974

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From: Alhambra CA

Pinnacle Studio DVDShrink and DVD XCopy are all great easy to use progs for copying DVD's. I believe you can buy any of them at Frys for a fairly decent price.

Sep 12, 2004 | 01:18 PM

Brian_Puff

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 169

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From: Spokane WA

last i heard the x-copy was banned, so the stores arent ordering anymore. i know you can get them off of e-bay for a little over 100 bucks. that sounds expensive, but concider this-
lets say you rent 2 movies a week, and copy both of them. that program will pay for itself in about 3 weeks. my friend has about 400 movies that are all copied. he doesnt sell them or anything illegal, just rents or borrows them then burns them.
another awesome thing is blockbuster up here in WA has unlimited rentals for 25 bucks a month. you can rent only 2 at a time, but you can just go back every day after work and swap them out.

Sep 12, 2004 | 01:34 PM

Dlyon

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Joined: Apr 2004

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian_Puff

he doesnt sell them or anything illegal, just rents or borrows them then burns them.

Is it illegal to make a copy?

Sep 12, 2004 | 03:45 PM

fn250

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 974

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From: Alhambra CA

DVDXCOPY was not banned, it involved in a controversy, and the company was actually involved in a law suit, something about it's ability to decrypt the DVDs, I think. Anyhow you can still buy it, although the company that made the software no longer supports it in the US.

YES it is illegal to copy DVDs, DVD Copy programs are supposed to be used to backup the DVD you own. Although I don't see anything wrong in backing up a Friends DVDs.