I want to watch DVDs on my tablet

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I own some DVDs.

I want to put the TV shows that are on the DVDs onto my tablet so that I can watch them on the train.

I guess I need to "rip" them and convert to mp4 or similar.

Any suggestions for (preferably free) software that does this?

I realise that often when people want to rip DVDs they are doing something dodgy, which is why I'd rather have a personal recommendation and not just search "free dvd rip software".

I'm not certain if what I want to do is technically legal, but they are my DVDs so I don't think it is immoral.

Do you have iTunes on a laptop and your tablet? Put the DVD into iTunes and then sync.

Dh has just tried this and it is NOT easy to do, if they are new DVDs there is sometimes a feature called free download or ultraviolet versions which you can redeem online so you have an electronic version.

It's Android not Apple so I don't think iTunes will help me.

Hm, as Time says they is sometimes something on the DVD to stop it being ripped.

Best off downloading programmes straight to your tablet in the future.

Dp does this all the time to get dvds onto our ipod touch and ipad - he uses software called handbrake on his laptop and then syncs the ipad/pod with the laptop. I would have thought something similar is possible with android.

I have never done it, but it seems like he finds it easy! I do know that handbrake makes different 'versions' of things depending on what we want to play it back on, so the copy 'for ipad' cannot be played on the ipod.

Occasionally a dvd is protected and he can't do it, but more often it's not and he can. And like you say, they're your dvds, you should be able to watch them!

Can you rip them to your computer? Then plug tablet in and open it up in my computer. If there's a videos file open it. Go to the file with the DVD copy in and drag it across to copy to tablet.

That's how I do it with my kindle. Not too sure if I already have ripping software on laptop though as DP is my tech support and he sorted it out.

TheNightIsDark - that' exactly what I want to do, but it's the "ripping" part that I want help with :)

Janek - I'll have a look at handbrake, thanks.

Handbrake should sort you out. Some disks are indeed copy protected. Others just have multiple spoof tracks on to make it hard to spot the ones you want to rip. Usually Handbrake can find the real one (or the first real one in the case of a DVD of TV eps) but if in doubt, play the disk in an application which will tell you the track number - VLC is a good one.