Ripping DVDs and software required

[plonkah]

OK will finally be getting new computer soon, and hopefully joining a movies DVD rental place.

Can one of you pros here provide an idiots guide to making good DVD Rips please ? Also, what software is best to use, and what problems can be encountered ?

Finally, I know there was a similar post some time ago, but maybe time to update this. What software do members have on their computers which is used for copying/converting audio/video, playing audio/video/DVDs, and editing (including versions) ? I ask because there is a lot of crap I almost never use on mine, so don't want to go down the same road and bloat out new computer before I start !!

Thanks to all who take time to reply.