Suggestions for DVD to HDD based video library.

[JoeTheZombie]

I'd like to take my DVDs and put them on my networked based storage. I have two televisions in my house. One is equipped with a HTPC. The other will be soon. I plan to run gb-pvr at both sets, both accessing the networked based library.

I know HDD space is cheap, and the best solution would be to simply store ISOs of the DVDs, but I'd rather not. I'm not interested in extras or menus. I want to select the movie and have it start playing. I also want smaller sized files for portability on laptops, etc.

I know how to use the various ripping tools to achieve a movie only vob collection, and am interested in what everyone thinks is a good final format for my movie only collection.

I was thinking about using x264 resulting in mp4 files, keeping the ac3 intact (sound quality to me is more important than image quality). Ideally, I'd like to keep a 1.5HR DVD around 1GB.

I've done some experimentation with Divx with OK results, but at my desired filesize, I'd like a better solution. I've browsed around the doom9 and videohelp websites, but would like to hear gb-pvr user's suggestions.

[bogyver]

I have used handbreak to do dvd's into x264 files, I usually re encoded the audio but it has an option to keep the ac3. I recently found out that if you use handbreak on windows you can use dvd43 to automatically decrypt the dvd when using handbreak. I used to use dvd decrypter to rip the dvd and then use hand break on the resulting vobs.
I usually encoded files at 1.5 - 2 gb but did a few in the beginning at 1 gb and they where of good video quality but YMMV especially with leaving the audio in ac3.