Does Anyone Remember "RCA Videodisc" (CES)? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

Kimmo · 05-13-2003, 01:42 PM

Remember that old format CES (Capacitance Electronic Discs) from the 80s? It stored the video on grooved vinyl discs encased in a huge cartridge. And it played on big funky players like this:

The format even had the Star Wars available.

I knew a guy in high school who's parents owned one of these things. At the time it was pretty cool, this was before laserdisc became big making it the only alternative to VHS and Beta for mainstream consumers. The resolution was the same as VHS but according to fans of CES (too long ago for me to remember) the picture was better on CES.

Interesting piece of video history rarely mentioned. Check out the site here.

Kimmo · 05-13-2003, 01:46 PM

Hmmm...for some reason the linked pictures didn't work.

Here's a picture of a player. RCA SGT-200

Kimmo · 05-13-2003, 01:52 PM

And the Star Wars discs (or rather, cartridges)

Edit: There are 2 because one is a Fox release, the other is a CBS release.

Dilmo · 05-14-2003, 03:23 AM

Wow, a trip down nightmare lane! The CED format caused me more headaches than I deserved. The discs skipped all the time, I exhanged players countless times, and traded old defective discs through RCA constantly. I new the format would fold, with laserdisc on the horizon, so I found a video store that was not too up on technology and unloaded my full collection for a decent price. I then went to laserdisc only to get pissed again, only this time by "laser-rot". You asked if I remember, well I do, and good riddance to CED!!

:flush:

jonathan_little · 05-14-2003, 04:04 AM

I still have a few dozen CEDs stacked up in the little stand that my CD player and receiver are in. The player is somewhere up in the attic with a "parts" player. My granddad still has hundreds of discs and two working players hooked up.

Another thread

It is (was) a horrible, horrible format, but I think it did get stereo mass home video releases out before tape did.

Fightguard · 05-14-2003, 04:21 AM

what was the size of these discs and how much did they go for back then? In the early 80's I was playing Atari 2600 and Colecovision

Dilmo · 05-14-2003, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fightguard
what was the size of these discs and how much did they go for back then? In the early 80's I was playing Atari 2600 and Colecovision

The discs were 12" in diameter enclosed in a thick plastic shell/sleeve. You insert the shell into the player and it pulls the disc out. You never actually touch or supposed to see the discs. If my memory is correct, starting prices ranged frome about $15 to $30 for some double discs.

NotaNumber · 05-14-2003, 06:17 AM

Check out the CED Magic website for an excellent discussion on the format including a rather definitive listing of titles.

Resolution of this format is 240 lines (same as VHS) vs 425 lines of LD and 500 lines of DVD.

CED did not hit the consumer market until 1981 whereas LD hit the market in 1978. I recall seeing a prototype LD player (with air turntable!) in Popular Science sometime between 1969 and 1972.

CED was pushed as a lower cost alternative to LD but when I found out it used a diamond stylus similar to a phonograph stylus I said "you gotta be kidding". Laserdiscs might rot, but you're not going to wear them out by playing them...

sub780lime · 05-14-2003, 08:42 AM

i used to have a friend with one of these players, definately an interesting unit, ah what memories

***Wirehed*** · 05-14-2003, 06:56 PM

I had a friend that had one back in the mid/early 80's. I seem to recall it being a pain in the ass, but the actuall picture qaulity seemed better than VHS.

I bought a laser disc player in the mid 80's so I didn't look back at the "other" formats.

Dr. Evil · 05-19-2003, 05:51 AM

I remember the "Needlevision" discs, but I have never seen them. I think my dad had one for a while.

A clunky format of little practical use, unlike laserdisc, which I eventually bought into (I have a couple of dozen laserdiscs).

RD

05-13-2003, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Kimmo Actor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Da Innernet	Does Anyone Remember "RCA Videodisc" (CES)? Remember that old format CES (Capacitance Electronic Discs) from the 80s? It stored the video on grooved vinyl discs encased in a huge cartridge. And it played on big funky players like this: The format even had the Star Wars available. I knew a guy in high school who's parents owned one of these things. At the time it was pretty cool, this was before laserdisc became big making it the only alternative to VHS and Beta for mainstream consumers. The resolution was the same as VHS but according to fans of CES (too long ago for me to remember) the picture was better on CES. Interesting piece of video history rarely mentioned. Check out the site here. __________________ Objects In Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear!

05-14-2003, 08:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
sub780lime Can't Spell Bilbo Join Date: May 2002 Location: A Galaxy Far Far Away	i used to have a friend with one of these players, definately an interesting unit, ah what memories __________________ love comes and goes, but an avatar . . . that's forever. - Pirate

05-14-2003, 06:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
*Wirehed* Producer/Admin NSFW Off 'the list' Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Sacto, Ca --Near Galt, home of LeVar Burton	I had a friend that had one back in the mid/early 80's. I seem to recall it being a pain in the ass, but the actuall picture qaulity seemed better than VHS. I bought a laser disc player in the mid 80's so I didn't look back at the "other" formats. __________________ The Order of the Zombie. The world's greatest zombie culture website. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wagn'nagl dominos" In his house in R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits for the pizza delivery guy.

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05-14-2003, 03:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Dilmo Suspended Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: New Braunfels, Texas. Far From Crawford!	Wow, a trip down nightmare lane! The CED format caused me more headaches than I deserved. The discs skipped all the time, I exhanged players countless times, and traded old defective discs through RCA constantly. I new the format would fold, with laserdisc on the horizon, so I found a video store that was not too up on technology and unloaded my full collection for a decent price. I then went to laserdisc only to get pissed again, only this time by "laser-rot". You asked if I remember, well I do, and good riddance to CED!! :flush:

05-14-2003, 04:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
jonathan_little Actor Join Date: Jan 2002	I still have a few dozen CEDs stacked up in the little stand that my CD player and receiver are in. The player is somewhere up in the attic with a "parts" player. My granddad still has hundreds of discs and two working players hooked up. Another thread It is (was) a horrible, horrible format, but I think it did get stereo mass home video releases out before tape did.

05-14-2003, 04:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
Fightguard Actor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Toronto	what was the size of these discs and how much did they go for back then? In the early 80's I was playing Atari 2600 and Colecovision

05-14-2003, 06:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
NotaNumber I paid for this! Join Date: May 2002	Check out the CED Magic website for an excellent discussion on the format including a rather definitive listing of titles. Resolution of this format is 240 lines (same as VHS) vs 425 lines of LD and 500 lines of DVD. CED did not hit the consumer market until 1981 whereas LD hit the market in 1978. I recall seeing a prototype LD player (with air turntable!) in Popular Science sometime between 1969 and 1972. CED was pushed as a lower cost alternative to LD but when I found out it used a diamond stylus similar to a phonograph stylus I said "you gotta be kidding". Laserdiscs might rot, but you're not going to wear them out by playing them...

05-19-2003, 05:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
Dr. Evil Actor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Microsoft country	I remember the "Needlevision" discs, but I have never seen them. I think my dad had one for a while. A clunky format of little practical use, unlike laserdisc, which I eventually bought into (I have a couple of dozen laserdiscs). RD