Ripping CDs with WMP is most n00b friendly way to rip CDs on Windows, by default it rips to WMA (no suprise) and it also uses a fhg encoder to rip to mp3. Also there is a error correction setting on WMP (off by default), but i have not tried it or heard anyone using it. If you are to rip to mp3 avoid iTunes, it has a really crappy mp3 encoder.
Windows Media Player:
Rips in WMA, WAV and MP3 formats.
Uses All Music Guide for CD metadata.
iTunes:
Rips in AIFF, WAV, Apple Lossless, AAC (Good performing encoder) and MP3 (Bad performing encoder)
Uses CDDB (Gracenote should be boycotted

) for CD metadata.