mpeg, avi, and other formats from DVD?

Posting the first topic in a forum is a strange feeling to me. There are no other topics against which to measure whether my choice of location is appropriate -- but, here goes!

Is there a guide here for converting DVD to another form such as mpeg or avi?

Assume I own the rights to the DVD in question and my purpose in converting it to mpeg or avi is to enable me to send all or part of it as an email attachment. (I am aware of how large the file could be, but the particular segment I am concerned with is less than five minutes.)