Likewise my dvd player can play mpeg 4 & divX files. I simply burn those as data format. That's a lot of video on a 4.37 GB DVD5 format disk. And heaps more for a dvd-mp3 disk. Of course, burning regular mpeg-2 dvd's requires special formatting of the files & format (UDF). And VCD & SVCD also have a specific CD format for video. Coloured books is what their formats are refered to as for CD's. A particular format for a particular type of cd; ie: game cd, video cd, music cd, etc.

My player was also relatively cheap ... certainly less than the major brands yet can play more formats than many of those!!!
$109 AUD (about US $81)

And whats wrong with watching them as a data burn on your computer? Cd burns are much cheaper but, if you want to go the expensive way by all means do so. I watch movie burns just fine on my laptop. No fancy DVD player's required for me. Burn the file in Nero 6 as a data burn and play in WMP with the codecs. All for the price of a blank CD.

CD or DVD media are not expensive where I am (even dvd-9 disks are now a fraction of what they cost a year ago. $5 each or about $1 for dvd-5 disks.) eg: I temporarily copy & burn borrowed videos onto dvd-rw disks so we can watch them when we like if we're pushed for time. Keeping everything on your computer takes up space & adds to wear on your HDD. Burnt as disks they will most likely last longer than the majority of HDD's. And having a dvd data disk of video music clips (or just music) for example keeps it organised & indexed for easy playback.

Same in the Faroe Islands about US$ 1.25 for a DVD-R and US$ 0.30 for a CDR, but since DVD-R fits more than 5 times the data it's cheaper in the long run.

BTW my DVD player/recorder wasn't cheap at all, but it has the works. Plays most formats, PC-link (I don't even have to burn a DVD, just turn on a program ), internet connection for musicchannels and to see what on the various TV-channels I have even if they have no TEXT-TV and a 40GB Harddisk where I can move recorded video to my PC and then burn it with Nero.

Had to order it from Denmark. After customs + tax it cost me about US$ 850

If you're after a cheap DVD player that plays most formats just burn a test DVD containing those formats and take it with you to the store for testing. Don't just jump right in and believe everything it says on the box. The DVD player my sister bought didn't even say that it was MPEG 4 compatible. It only said VCD and SVCD

I should mention I can play bought DVD's on my laptop as well as burn DVD's if I wanted too but, I still prefer CD burns in Nero. It's just easier for me and and less expensive. I dont keep everything on my HD, LOTR. My laptop doesnt have the space for that so I burn everything on disks anyway and dont download as much as I used too as I got more than I need for music files from my Napster days which is close to 20 CD's, data burns, full of music.

lol I just passed 80 gigs

I have used the following successfully in the past, but there is not perfect art form. I was happy with VSO DivX to DVD for a while.

http://www.vso-software.fr/

It seemed to do mpg files too..which was good. This software I had the most success with.

Now to burn a DVD to DVD, there are programs like DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter. I expect them not to be around too long since they can be thought of more than just a "backup" solution.

I have also burned avi files to VCD or SVCD which means burning to a CD format. I don't remember those utilities. So far, I'm trying to burn from DVD to DVD, but seem to be getting errors on my DVD Shrink.

Oh well, I don't want to bother the group (yet) on that issue. BTW, this is my very first post here. I use Limewire. Is that bad for this forum? It was recommended by a friend, but still uses the gnutella network, correct?

If I remember correctly MacroVision bought the right to DVD-Decrypter 9 months ago and forced everyone offering the download to remove it. Wonder why

Is it available for download again ? (I mean on the web)

As to your burning problem you should make a new thread for it

??? Why should using LImewire be bad for the Limewire section of the Gnutella Forums ???