There are a variety of ways. I can't give details, because there are so many brands and possibilities, but here's a general overview.
You can buy combination videotape players/DVD recorders that can copy tapes to DVD. They are generally designed specifically so that they can not copy commercial tapes, but usually work for tapes you've shot yourself.
You could put the tape in a player and get a video converter for your computer that will take the output from the player and digitize it to a file. This file could then be burned to a DVD.
If you only want to copy one or two tapes, it may be easiest to take (or send) the tape to a company that does this on a professional basis. Again, they won't copy commercial tapes.
not legally
There are certain DVD/VCR combos that allow you to transfer them, and there are computer based systems with video input cards, software and DVD writers that allow video to be captured and mastered to a DVD.
DVD is such an improvement over VHS that it doesn't matter.
The easiest way to copy VHS tapes to DVD is to purchase a VHS/DVD combo. It will allow you to pop in a tape and burn it to DVD without having to download software or hook up to computer.
It depends what you mean. If you mean "Can you download a DVD onto your ipod?" then no. I've tried DVD Video Soft, but if the film is protected by copyright then you can't. If you mean "Can you download a film onto your ipod?" (which is basically what you asked) then only if you have the MP4 version. You can buy triple DVD packs which have a blue-ray copy, a normal DVD copy and a digital copy which you can put onto your ipod. But to do this, you must have an iTunes account. Rather confusing, no?
because of the copyright laws and that stuff
Yes, just download DVD Shrink.
A person can copy a DVD to an iPod by downloading extraction software on their computer and putting the movie file into an MP4 file and transferring it onto the person's iPod.
You can find a copy at the related link but you should know that it is a copy from an old VHS tape onto DVD. Apparently if you find someone that has it, or a school that has it, you are allowed to burn a copy because they no longer distribute it. I am currently looking for someone who has it, as I would love to have a copy! Let me know if you find one! laneylaughlin@yahoo.com
Copy the DVD onto your computer and then open iTunes. Click file and then click add file to library. Locate the DVD that you copied to your computer and double click it. iTunes should do the rest.
Converting an old video onto a DVD isn't that hard nowadays. For instance, a person can purchase a device that will convert a VHS tape into a DVD or into a video file. It can then be uploaded onto a computer and burned to a disk with ease.
What you are seeking to do violates copyright law.