VLC was suggested purely as a way to get the VOBs into an mpg. It's really VideoDub that does all the work.
I was following the advice in these three blog entries:
http://www.jakeludington.com/dvd_hacks/20061125_convert_pal_dvd_for_pc_playback.html
As to the quality of the show: My other half has a near-maniacal interest in all things ancien regime. This has reasonably good costuming and some of the historical references are dead-on.
VLC will play any file you throw at it (as long as it's not totally corrupt, obviously).
Seems fine (the blog guide), although all chapters and menus seem like they'll be lost.
Try this place out. They're very good on guides and advice.
Thank you. On a quick read, there is a lot of good, pertinent advice there.
Oh, and my manners will not let me forget to thank you for your welcome a few messages back. 
No worries.
Don't be a stranger. And let us know how you get on.
((A thread back from the dead....))
Happy New Year to all!
I just wanted to report on the ultimate disposition of this mad effort:
After a bit more reading, I came to the conclusion that this was really going to be a lot of effort and require a lot of software. A hardware solution started to sound better and better. (It had been "off the table" originally because non-Region 1 players had been expensive and I didn't think that our media cabinet had room for a second player.)
Well, prices have come down a lot, and the form factor for a non-recording DVD player is quite slim. Add in a USB port and HD-upgradeable output and I was sold. (Or, rather, it was sold. :^)
Santa put the player, the DVD, a brand-spanking-new A/B box, and a 6' piece of video cable under the tree.
My partner has been positively gleeful. We've watched every episode twice already with much merriment (his).
Thanks again for helping me sort it out.
---
Now, I guess, I'm looking for anything and everything done by Dawn French, particularly if it isn't available in the US.
Well there's this for starters.
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/-/26/55/-/3566412/French-And-Saunders-Series-1-6/Product.html]
[h=746599]
Didn't want to create a new thread for one comment.
Loving this, just got it in the post from Base.com.
Funny.I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did first time around.
It should have had more series!
Well you should have! 
But it's on the same subject 
Well, sort of, still about the DVD 
