Best software for ripping DVDs?

I'm looking for some free software to burn DVDs. Ideally, I need something that can also handle video conversion—like taking an AVI file and turning it into a DVD format on a disc.
To be clear, I want strictly free tools, nothing cracked or illegal.

Thoughts, recommendations, or just a good discussion? Any info helps!
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Give Handbrake a shot instead.

Is this thread in the wrong section, or is everyone here just using cracked versions of Nero Burning ROM?
Seriously, give me some actual suggestions. If I had asked which antivirus is the best on this forum, I’d already be wading through twenty baseless opinions and useless answers.

If you're looking for a solid, free way to burn stuff—totally worth checking out: http://cdburnerxp.se/

And if you need some decent free converters to get the job done, grab these: http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html or http://mediacoder.sourceforge.net/. Honestly, they do the trick.

You can also use Nero Burning ROM for burning discs; it’s actually free too...

rowdysurfer23 said:Is this thread in the wrong section, or is everyone just running pirated versions of Nero Burning ROM?
Come on, guys, give me something useful here. If I had asked which antivirus was the best, I’d probably be wading through two hundred baseless opinions and guesses by now.

There's as much info out there as you want, you just have to actually use Google.
http://www.google.com/search?source=i...&oq=free+conve

Personally, I’d suggest checking out Ashampoo Burning Studio 2009; it serves as a fantastic alternative if you aren't feeling Nero Burning ROM. The best part is that you can actually grab it for free—all you have to do is complete a quick registration.

http://www.skidajmo.com/Usluzni/Asha...009_Free_2009/

crimsonridge44 said:There’s as much as you want; you just have to open Google.
http://www.google.com/search?source=i...&oq=free+conve

Real helpful response there, thanks a lot. If you hadn't pointed it out, I never would've known Google actually existed.
I was looking for actual opinions and some community input. I appreciate the people who actually stepped up to help—I'm currently downloading Ashampoo Burning Studio while you can go ahead and "Google it."