Right now I have a "big" PC and a "little" one (according to their specs).
Until now, I had used the "big" one with windows XP for PIM, games (two or three), DVD authoring and burning and reproduction of music and movies... Typical workstation.
The other runs Gentoo Linux and is a apache/mysql/samba/nat server for the "big" one and a third I don't use. I also use it for PHP development.
Finally I got tired of XP and want to switch the situation: Gentoo in the big one and Windows in the other.
But first I must ensure all the needs will be sattisfied by Linux, for what I have several questions I'll distribute in several threads with this same intro.
"big" PC specs=a7v8x-x/amd 2600+/512DDR/Radeon9600 pro/SB Live!/19" Monitor/DVD reader and recorder
"little" PC specs=a7a266/amd 1800+/512DDR/sis6326/no sound/17" monitor/DVD reader and CD recorder
This one's about DVD reproduction:
I watch lots of dvds as movies are quite important in my life, so I need this to work perfectly.
The features I need are:
A DVD player with menus support, 5.1 audio, etc.
A multizone crack/patch
A program for caching the dvd while playing (like DVDIdle in windows) to extend the reader's lifetime.

Has anyone managed to get all this together?
With what programs?
Thanks in advance!

for DVD player you have a bunch to pick from, i personally like Kaffeine or Xine, but a lot around here will point you to Mplayer.

as for ripping DVDs, the title is DVD::RIP google it. very powerful

have no clue what you are talking about on the 3rd request sorry cant help ya there.