I never said that was my primary interest. The iphone is a phone & smaller than the n810 but it is heavily focused on media. So there is a real need/ desire for watching "media" on a device smaller than a tv. And I am sure the "technologies" are the same for watching/ converting a dvd for desktop but that doesn't answer my question. What exact technologies (programs) are the most recommended for doing such? thanks.

Your question was answered more than once. Read a little more closely next time:

aflegg's excellent tablet-encode will output perfect videos every time. It can also bet set up as a webserver to transcode media on-the-fly from a server machine while at home. Konttori's Media Converter is another option if you really need a GUI.

N800 Video Convert is what I use. Works well. For DVD-to-N800 transcoding you may also have to use something like DVD Decrypter (q.v.); if so, might as well use AutoGK, and specify to format to a 400-pixel wide screen (doubling the pixels to 800 is a fast operation for the N800), and give it the file size you want.

Oh, and I expressly bought my n800 as a laptop replacement. It works well as such (with a few tradeoffs). The n800 cannot replace a laptop that is in itself a desktop replacement. So I run a big-*** desktop rig and a pocket computer with a BT Keyboard.

HandBrake seems to be mentioned a lot:
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ight=handbrake



This thread mentions the newly released 'Nokia Internet Tablet Video Converter'.