Super VCD, the mainland's official video disc standard, is coming to the SAR by way of set-top box maker VNet Information.
VNet plans to launch a combination set-top box and Super VCD player early next year that will enable users to browse the Internet and send e-mail on TV screens without a computer, and play video discs in the VCD and Super VCD standard.
Its VWeb machine, which is the size of a VCR, hooks up to a standard telephone line and a TV monitor. VWeb has a built-in 56-kilobit-per-second V.90 modem and uses its own Internet browser designed by a Japanese company.
Words are input with a cordless computer keyboard or can be jotted on a handwriting-recognition tablet in either English or Chinese characters.
Franco Kong, of VNet distributor MPEG Systems, believes other Super VCD players will come on to the SAR market next year. Super VCD, which has 350 pixels per horizontal resolution line, is an improvement over 250-pixel VCD.
'The picture quality will be better than VCD,' Mr Kong said.
He predicted that Super VCD discs - the non-pirated variety - would sell in Hong Kong for between $40 and $50.