DVD ripping programs are used for converting and ripping DVDs to other video formats supported by popular portable devices like the iPod, the Zune, the PSP and video-enabled cellular phones. If you need to convert video and DVD to play on one of these devices, DVD ripper software may be what you need.

However, buying videos to play specifically on your portable player can be expensive. If you want to save yourself some money, you can actually copy DVDs that you already own over to your portable multimedia device. All you need to do that is the proper DVD ripper program. A DVD ripper program is a software program which will let you rip your DVDs to a format that your portable player can recognize and play.

When you are choosing a DVD ripper program, you will probably want one that is capable of converting your DVD movie files to MP4 format. Most portable multimedia players these days, including iPhones, Zunes, iPods and PSPs are only compatible with MP4 format files. Although that is one of the most important things to look for, it is far from the only thing. You have a number of things to consider when buying or downloading a DVD ripper program.

You will first want to consider the specifications of the DVD ripper program. Speed is a big issue. After all, would you want to spend all day ripping a single DVD? Of course not! It is best to look for a DVD ripping program that can rip DVD movies at a quick rate. This is especially important if you are planning to use the program all the time. A few minutes of speed here and there adds up after several DVD ripping sessions. So, a lot depends on how often you plan to rip DVDs.

Another important thing to look for when you are choosing a DVD ripper program is whether or not it supports both batch and full mode. This features is really important when you are ripping DVDs with episodes on them. In the batch mode on most DVD rippers, you can choose the exact chapters you want to rip from the DVD instead of copying the entire contents. That way, you can take only your favorite episodes with you on your portable multimedia device if you want, rather than taking the contents of an entire DVD.

Last, but not least, be sure to look at the ease of use of the DVD ripper program. You'll want to choose a DVD ripper program that seems fairly easy for you to operate. There's no advantage to a lot of features in the software if you have no idea how to use them properly.

By following these tips and using your best judgment, you will be able to choose the perfect DVD ripper program for you. Now you can transport all your favorite DVD movies on your portable multimedia device wherever and whenever you go.