Page 1 of VCD`s

This probably seems like a stupid question but I am a newbie to DVD etc.
Can you actually buy VCD`s either in shops or online-do they release films/tv etc on VCD.
The reason I ask is because I was in Hong Kong recently and they had shops selling nothing but VCD movies for £5.
Is it legal in this country?
I have yet to see any mention of VCD titles anywhere.
Sorry if my question is totally absurd.

VCDs (Video CDs) are really the poor man`s alternative (no offence) to DVD in the Far East. The picture quality is usually akin to VHS, and the audio is generally stereo at best.

With DVD being out of reach for most of the average person`s wagepacket in the Far East, standalone VCD players do a roaring trade in places such as Hong Kong, hence the large amounts available in those countries.

Before buying VCDs (eg http://www.vcd-import.com) from abroad you need to ensure your DVD player can actually playback these titles. Generally VCDs are not available in the UK, not so much because they`re illegal (although some piracy of LaserDisc/film reels direct to VCD does sadly happen - eg if you`re ever offered, say, the Indiana Jones trilogy on DVD you will be getting a pirate VCD, more often than not) but because DVD is far superior.

The main two benefits of VCD are that (a) there`s no regional coding and (b) they are nice and cheap : but you need to balance that against inferior picture/sound quality.

I hope this helps you - never feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask questions like this - we all have to start somewhere !!

Please could you help me, I to don`t know much about VCDs. I have a Pioneer 340 & a Toshiba SD100E DVD players, could you tell me if my machines are capable of playing VCDs, as I had 1 but it would only play through my pc.
Also are VCD Import any good, I tried their site. They use terms which I don`t understand, such as : Telesync, Screener, Cat A, Cat B. Please could someone tell me what these mean.
Thankyou for your help
Steve72

Clayts,

have you ever bought anything from vcd-imports? Looks like the sort of site where you may get strange deductions from your credit card!!

Had a look at the site and it looks a little dodgy??

Also what is the score with having new cinema releases on DVD and VCD, how do they manage that? I take it the quality is extra nasty?

Thanks,

APBP

I personally don`t indulge in buying VCDs, although I think VCD Import are well-respected (could I graciously indulge you in perhaps recommending a search of the forum - it`s definitely been covered in the past).

There are ways and means of downloading full films and burning them to CD in DivX format, but of course all this activity is highly illegal. Also if you don`t have broadband, you can forget it anyway, as most films are around 600Mb to download anyway !!!

Naturally, this sort of information isn`t for discussion on these Forums, with it being illegal, an` all...

I ordered "Star Wars" from here for $6.99 (about £5) and it looks quite good on my 25" TV

LINK REMOVED - pirates a-hoy ! (Edited by Clayts)

This item was edited on Thursday, 6th September 2001, 22:50

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, and other pirate-like sayings.

Link removed in above posting - sorry mate

Clayts
Moderator

Sorry! I thought my Star Wars looked Genuine with a proper pressed disc with the title printed on the discs.