[SATLUG] DVD questions

[Travis H.]

> I can mount the DVD as a regular device, but it has a lot of files on it
> that I don't recognize:  .bup, .ifo, .vob, .ses, .mpg, .psd, .spu, .dvd,
> .mp2.

That's how DVDs store the video.  I ended up using ogle to view copies
of the dvd image on FC3.

> The second question is how do I extract files for direct viewing?  There
> are nine segments and I'd like to have users look at the video directly
> off the web or download the files and view them on their computer.  Most
> of the viewers would be using Windows systems, but some would use Macs.
>  I'd like to use something that is compatible with all systems.

For smaller downloads, most people "rip" the DVD to a native computer
video format like .mpeg, .avi, .rm, .qt, .mov, .asf or .wmv.  Since
this involves compression, the file ends up being smaller.  Many of
the files have the capability to use several different codecs, so you
must choose both the file format and codec carefully for maximum
compatibility, availability, etc.

> Any advice or pointers to documents will be appreciated.

This site has tons of good info:
http://www.videohelp.com/
It's the definitive site on video file manipulation, cds, cdrs, dvds, etc.
-- 
http://www.lightconsulting.com/~travis/
GPG fingerprint: 50A1 15C5 A9DE 23B9 ED98 C93E 38E9 204A 94C2 641B