Free DVD ripping software for Windows

DVD ripping is an “iffy” subject because it can be used for illegal purposes. In some cases it may be illegal even if stealing is not involved since encryption has to be broken. However, it should be perfectly fine to back up your legal DVD movie collection. I will not go further into the legality of this topic because things can get complicated.

Free CD and DVD burning software

In my effort to find free and open-source software around the interweb I thought it would be good to list some CD and DVD burning applications.

When it comes to burning discs there are good commercial products available. The Nero Suite has been a favourite for a long time, although I believe their software packages are starting to get a little bloated. Before I knew about free alternatives I used Nero for all my burning needs; I was especially drawn to the easy-to-use Nero Express wizard that enabled quick DVD video conversion. Many persons have expressed the superiority of Ashampoo Burning Studio which basically does everything that Nero does without the excessive bloat and system slowdown. Unfortunately, I cannot testify to this since I have never used it. Then again, why should I? There are free and open-source alternatives for doing the same thing!