question converting mpeg2 to vcd using tmpgenc with plugin

[jimdagys]

I am a newbie with very weak computer skills and I have a question.
A friend helped me get tmpgenc and then we used it to successfully convert a mpeg2 (from tv recording software) to make a vcd. However, before I could input the mpeg2 into tmpgenc, it was necessary to get and install a plugin. Otherwise tmpgenc gave an error message of unsupported file. My question is, when person gets a well known software such as tmpgenc to do a basic task, why is it necessary to find and install plugins to get the software to work properly? To me, this is like going to a good restaurant for a meal, and finding they don't provide knife and fork, and so before eating you have to go to a shop to buy the knife and fork.
(I myself don't know how to get plugins, I don't know how to install plugins, and if I ever see a compressed file such as zip or winwar (the stack of books or the clamp), I am totally lost about how to deal with such a file.)

[redwudz]

TMPGEnc doesn't own the rights to use some formats. It's the same with Microsoft. They don't include the MPEG-2 codec with the OS because someone else owns the rights to it.

If you get further into video conversion you will find you will have to install quite a few different codecs to read different video types.

[jdizzy40]

Get on Google and type in "What is Winzip or Winrar". Just like like!