Best way to convert to Mpeg 2?

I'm trying to avoid goint to a DVD disc

Why? (as a matter of interest).

The standard DVD format is mpeg2!

Anyone know the best way to convert quicktime files over to Mpeg2 format? for use on a PC?
There are many ways to do this. A more important question might be what you mean by "MPEG-2 format." Are you are referring to multiplexed MPEG2/MP2 content in an MPEG file container which is pretty much a standard? Or are you looking for another MPEG-1 audio layer, AC3, etc?

The iDVD and Toast files you mention are merely containers. If you open then and remove the VOB title sets, have iDVD create the VIDEO_TS folder (which contains such files), or access the temporarily stored Toast encoded data. Theses files are compatible with many hybrid multimedia players on both Mac and PC platforms. Further, they can be re-coded as multiplexed MPEG-2 video with other audio alternatives, elementary audio/video streams, etc.

Anyone know if PC media player can open Video_TS files?
Most DVD Player applications can open VIDEO_TS content as if it were being played from a DVD. Many hybrid multimedia players will open VOB files either individually or as a Title Set (e.g., MPEG Streamclip for both Mac and PC platforms can open such files with either the QT MPEG-2 Playback component or PC MPEG alternative package installed) for playback, changing of multiplexed audio format, conversion of audio and/or video, or the demultiplexing of the content as you may choose.

You could try using mpegStreamclip:

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/mpegstreamclip.html

which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

which is a mere $20.

a format that if the proof is OK they can then use the video to place into a card reader for a TV.
Now you are changing the parameters. What kind of a TV card reader are you talking about? Network ethernet? Consumer MPEG-4 to TV output? Motion-JPEG? Any particular brand? Any special restrictions on the file container or compression format? Until you know what compression formats are compatible/tags are mandatory, it isn't possible to make any recommendations or even guesses. What is the capacity of the card to be use and/or are you capping the data rate/file size?

A finished quicktime formatted video that I can turn into an mpeg2 format for viewing on a PC or a TV.
Virtually any fully supported/conversion compatible QT compression format could be converted to MPEG-2 compressed files with the proper software -- ranging from VCD, Compressor, or bitVice to the burner applications you've already mentioned. The question remains what variation or flavor of MPEG-2 are you targeting -- multiplexed MPEG-2 video with MPEG-1 layer 1 audio, MPEG-2 video with MPEG-1 layer 2 audio, MPEG-2 video with MPEG-1 layer 3 audio, MPEG-2 video with PCM audio, MPEG-2 video with AC3 audio, independent MPEG-2 video files resourcing separate AIFF audio files, etc? Do they need to be in an MPEG, VOB, TS, MOV, or other file container? Will you be generating the card reader and MPEG-2 files from the same source file or do you plan to make the MPEG-2 file from the "proofed" card reader file and if so, can you define the minimum level of acceptable quality? How do you plan to play the MPEG-2 content on TV if not using a DVD Player?

apple id number 11 wrote:
Anyone know the best way to convert quicktime files over to Mpeg2 format? for use on a PC?

other than Toast or iDVD? using iDVD and burn to disk image i have to end up with an .img suffix and toast ends up with a .toast suffix. I'm trying to avoid goint to a DVD disc.

PC's wont open either unless you have those particular applications. Anyone know if PC media player can open Video_TS files?

Make a DVD in Toast. Mount it and then save as bin/cue. Send to the PC user. Most CD/DVD burner programs like Nero will mount and then burn the image.

If you want MPEG-2 raw files, make a DVD in Toast. The VOB files on the DVD are MPEG-2 files. Just name them X or Y.mpg.

If you drop a pile of titles on a DVD layout in Toast you will have multiple clips in a single VOB (they are in the VIDEO_TS folder).

Open one or all the VOBs in MPEG Streamclip and set in/out points and convert to MPEG from the file menu.