Q&A: Playing Digital Cameras Video Files on DVD

I have a Minolta Dimage digital camera that also takes video with sound, and the files are in QuickTime format. I can put the QuickTime files on a CD using Easy CD Creator 6, but I'm unable to play the CD on my DVD player. Is there any way to burn QuickTime movies without upgrading my CD burner?

--Taylor Wayne, Jupiter, Florida

That's a really good question, Taylor. Many people are surprised to learn that simply copying a video onto a CD doesn't make it playable in a DVD player. But the good news is that there's no need to replace your CD-RW drive with a DVD-RW drive.

What you need to do is create a Video CD (or VCD, for short), and your CD-RW drive is more than capable of doing that. Many CD burning applications, including your very own Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6, have a VCD mode that creates CDs that can be played in most DVD players.

There are a few caveats, though. VCD discs play fairly low resolution video that's comparable to a VHS tape. Also, not all DVD players recognize VCD discs, so you might find that some of your friends can't view your discs in their players. But if you can put up with those inconveniences, you'll find that the VCD format is an inexpensive way to make videos without a DVD burner.