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HKFlix.com VCD Info Center & Purchasing Policies
Unlike DVDs, HKFlix.com does not accept any returns on VCDs. We sell VCDs on an "as is" basis. Specs listed are NOT guaranteed.
The fundamental reason behind this policy is that unless you have a dedicated Video-CD player, there are a host of compatibility issues between VCDs and alternative playback systems such as DVD players and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives in computers. Without this policy, HKFlix.com would see a high return rate of "defective" VCDs, when the real problem is the user's equipment and/or software. If you haven't played a VCD before, we suggest borrowing one to make sure that your equipment is compatible and your software (if on a computer) is configured properly. If you are new to VCDs, we recommend that you read the following information.
What is a Video Compact Disc or VCD?
A Video Compact Disc or VCD is a compact disc that plays movies instead of music.It is in multi-platform format which means you can use many different kinds of equipment to play them.
VCDs look exactly like a CD or CD-ROM except that it stores video/audio clips using the compressed and standardized MPEG-1 (Motion Picture Expert Group) format. It was jointly developed by Philips and Sony and were introduced in 1993. A single disc can only hold 74 minutes of video but usually only 50 to 60 minutes is actually used. So a typical movie will be held in two compact discs that are packaged in a single jewel case.
VCDs are very popular in Asia and are gaining popularity in America, Europe and Australia. Nowadays, VCDs have practically replaced video cassettes in Asia. The main reason is because VCD is cheap compared to DVDs and the quality is comparable to VHS. It can also last much longer than VHS and has no drop in sound/picture quality when stored for a long time. It is much smaller in size and is as easy to store and transport as a CD.
Are VCDs Letterboxed (Widescreen) or Are They Full Screen?
We often cannot tell for certain. Most are letterboxed, but a few are full screen. The VCD cases do not specify this information. We do not make any guarantees regarding films on VCDs being letterboxed or full screen.
What equipment do I need to play VCD?
VCDs can be played on VCD players but outside of Asia, dedicated VCD players are uncommon. Another way to view VCDs are on DVD players. DVD movies are encoded using a compression technique called MPEG-2, whereas, VCDs are encoded in MPEG-1. Because of the similarity of encoding and compression techniques, most, but not all DVD players can play VCDs and DVDs. You also can play VCDs on your PC if your computer is properly equipped. Other less common platforms that will play VCDs are:
- Playstation Consoles with VCD Add-On [a.k.a the Movie Card]
- Saturn Consoles with VCD Add-On
- Doctor V64 / CD 64
- Some CD-I Players
- Some 3DO Game Consoles
- Some Laser Disc Players
In order to play Video CD's on your traditional desktop or laptop computer, you must have the proper Video CD Software Installed. The following software should work:
NOTE: On a Mac, you need the CD-ROM SpeedTools Driver. You must Disable the Apple CD driver extension and install the SpeedTools driver.
WHY DOESN'T WINDOW'S MEDIA PLAYER WORK?
For some reason Microsoft Media Player will sometimes hangs when opening the .dat file on certain VCD, please try using Xing Mpeg Player or PowerVCD Player instead of Microsoft Media Player. MS Media Player was not designed for playing VCD's, other special VCD software is.
I CAN SEE THE CD, BUT WHAT FILE DO I RUN?
Open your VCD or Mpeg Software, and browse to your CD-ROM, look in the MPEGAV, or SEGMENT Directory for the .DAT files. DAT files are the raw MPEG video stream. eg. MUSIC01.DAT AVSEQ01.DAT
If you are using Xing, just click File - Open Video CD.
If you are using PowerVCD player, just click on the CD icon to launch it.
Compatibility Problems between CD-ROM and DVD-ROM Computer Drives and VCDs
Certain titles have conflict problems with particular drives. This is more of an issue with the drive manufacturer than with the company that makes the title. Usually, the problem comes from a driver, which is the programming that recognizes the disc in the drive and transfers the data to your computer. Drive manufacturers are constantly discovering driver problems and frequently post updated drivers on their Web sites. These are easily downloaded and installed on your computer. If this does not solve the problem, contact your drive manufacturer and alert them to the problem.
What are the advantages of VCD?
- VCD is multi-platform
- Random Access for quick search
- Multiple audio/voice tracks for multilingual support
- It's a cheaper alternative for DVDs and Laser Discs
- Its the exact size of your regular CDs and its so much easier to store compared to VHS
- Its picture and sound WILL NOT deteriorate with time, unlike VHS so if you are a movie collector,you can keep your collection for a very long time
- VCDs have no incompatibility problems caused by different formats such as PAL, NTSC & SECAM, and also do not have lock-out codes that disallow you playing movies that are not bought in your region
How do subtitles work on VCDs?
- VCDs have "burned-in" non-removable subtitles. VCDs that contain both Chinese and English subtitles will display both languages at the same time. Most, but not all of our VCDs have English subtitles. Before ordering a VCD, be sure to confirm that it has your desired subtitle options as we do not accept returns on VCDs.
What are the disadvantages of VCD?
- Relatively poor video and sound quality, when compared to DVD
- Compatibility issues with non-dedicated playback platforms
- Most films are on two discs, which make an intermission (i.e. interruption) necessary
Please keep in mind the following:
- VCDs have roughly the same quality as VHS, and digital artifacts may occur on some VCDs
- Some titles may have compatibility problems with some DVD players and computer systems, while other titles may not have problems with the same system
- Subtitles may sometimes be unclear
If you are in doubt of your playback equipment, or feel that VCDs might not serve your needs, please do not order VCDs.
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