Yes there are several "less traveled" paths to putting your own dvds onto your ipod... there are many ways which are very complicated and require several steps, but I recently heard about a much much easier way: by using a program called Handbrake (for either mac or pc) and once you install the program (via free online download) you simply insert the DVD, choose the source and destination, select your format and let it do the rest... I have used it several times and it always has worked seamlessly for me... good luck