So I started using Handbrake, which I've been hearing about forever. For ripping to AVI, it works like a champ. I'm planning to re-rip the movies that I had done previously, for the following reasons:

1. Handbrake lets you set up an encode queue. I can pop 2 DVDs into my HTPC before I leave for work, set them up using Remote Desktop, and they're done when I get home at night. Then I take them out, put two more in, and start the process all over. (I think I can even add other DVD drives in my house over the network to the queue but that sounds like a recipe for issues.)

2. The movies are sized correctly. The last ripper I used sized things into 640 x 480, then XBMC stretched/fixed them. This program does them in the native resolutions, which is definitely the way to go.

3. The program supports 2-pass encoding, which takes longer, but has a better ending result. The videos look much better, and I don't care if the videos take 4 or 5 hours to rip, I'm out working, doing stuff and living my life, I just want the video to be done eventually.

4. The processor usage is much less than the other programs I used. I can definitely run other programs, watch over HD videos, and do other stuff without a problem. There's no noticeable delay at all (despire the fact that I'm using a single core P4 system).

So - I highly recommend Handbrake. I'd also recommend using ANYDVD in conjunction with this program, because ANYDVD just sits in the taskbar and helps the decoding process.