FFMPEG is a command line utility that just about anyone who has used video in Linux is familiar with. It will convert FLV files to AVI, MOV, M4V (iPod), RockBox, etc. and do so easily.

However most people hate command line stuff, and I don’t blame you.

Most GUI-based FLV converter apps are absolutely terrible, save for one: WinFF.

Don’t be fooled by the title. WinFF isn’t just for Windows. It not only does Windows but Ubuntu, regular Debian, RedHat and openSUSE as well.

WinFF is, said honestly, an ugly app. But that doesn’t matter because it does the job it’s supposed to do.

Here’s a simple example of using WinFF Windows version. You most likely want to convert the FLV to WMV for editing in Windows Movie Maker. If that’s what you want to do, here’s how to do it:

First, you download an FLV.

Second, drag/drop the file into WinFF.

Third, select Convert To as WMV.

Fourth, select Device Preset at WMV2.

Fifth, select Output folder as the desktop.

Looks like this:

Hit Convert.

A command prompt window will appear while the file is converting. When done the window disappears and the conversion is complete.

That’s it. It doesn’t get any easier. The WMV will be made on the desktop and you can use it from there.