yeah, I'd point you to doom9 too.
no personal experience, but from years of reading these types of threads, I can tell you it is a very hard thing to do.
Also, PAL format is generally a better quality format. I can't remember the exacts specs, but more lines of resolution or something comes to mind. You'd be better off telling your friends to go buy a $30 dvd player from target that will play anything you throw at it, pal, ntsc, +r, -r dual-layer, etc