So this isn't a question for Mac, but for Windows.

What's the best way to make an AVI burn onto a DVD?

I used some program called WinAVI and it breaks up the file to many smaller ones and then distorts the quality. I'm not a stickler about quality but friends and family might be. If anyone has any insight, please help.

there's a few different ways to do it. Coming from a mac perspective, you could install Quicktime Pro and make sure you have the avi's codec (xvid, divx, etc) installed for quicktime, install the quicktime mpeg 2 component and then export the mpeg2s.

If you have an recent ATi video card, you could try using the converter built into the catalyst control center. It works pretty well on my X18000XT.

Not sure what else on the windows side, but hope that helps.

you can also use toast titanium if you want a pretty simple UI; however, it wont give you any advanced options to choose from. The quality is great tho.

I use Nero Vision 4. You just select your video files (almost any format) and it automatically transcodes it and burns it to DVD.

For Windows

Nero is probably one of the easiest/quickest ways, but Cinema Craft Encoder (CCE) or TMPGEnc will give you the best quality (look for the full versions on the Green Demon or TPB). VideoHelp.com, AfterDawn.com, and Doom9.org have plenty of guides to help you out.

for all the time you'd spend doing that why not just get a cheap divx capable dvd player and burn your .avi's to data dvds..

6 700 meg movies per disk.. i know my my local wallyworld they have at least 6-7 divx players for around 30.00

I have a Daeynx player.. nothing wrong with it at all.

Its not hard to make a DVD from AVI files...You select the video files and you click Burn. It sometimes takes a while to transcode, but worth the wait. As for a DivX player, that method would be good if you are only watching your DVDs at home, but if you plan on taking them somewhere, theres a good chance there won't be a DivX player there.

Just my

Maybe you can try this Video to DVD Burner.
I'm sorry but, since I am not quite familiar with it, I cannot give you much advice.