taking screengrabs from a laptop dvd player

[joko]

Hi
I want to take screen grabs (stills or make mpegs) from DVDs and put them on my computer

can i do this with a CD RW/DVD combo

the cd is a burner, but it just plays the dvds

anyone know if this will work? and if so how?

many thanks

[LeMarchand]

There's normally a "screen capture" option in most newer software DVD players. What are you using, and which version?

[joko]

hi LeMarchand

i don't have one yet, i am looking to buy so i want to make sure i get one that will do what i want.

I have been looking on ebay for one that fits the C series dell latitude - there are a few, but do you think older models might not have that facility then?
how might you tell what year they were and whether they will do this?

i do have an ordinary set top dvd player - would i be able to do something with that do you think?

many thanks for your help

[LeMarchand]

It's not so much the age of the hardware, it's the software that you are using to play the DVD. If I remember correctly, you can download Intervideo from Dell and the newer versions of that do screenshots. I've just played a DVD using VLC ( http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ ), which is free, and that definitely will do screengrabs - it dumps them in "My Pictures" by default, though you can alter this. Basically, as long as your hardware can play DVDs then you should be OK. (VLC is only "officially" good on Windows 2000 and later).

It's possible to use an ordinary DVD player, but you would need an import card or device in between the player and your laptop/computer. I would think that a CDRW/DVD combo drive might be more useful on the whole.

[joko]

cheer Lemarchand - i'm downloading that and i'll get bidding!