Should I use FLASH?

[michaaal]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we don't
want to limit our customer base. We noticed that eBay and Yahoo both don't
seem to hesitate to use Flash on their websites.

My personal thoughts is that most people have Flash enabled on their
computer so it shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have any comments or
real-life experiences with this issue?

 

[Philip Ronan]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we don't
want to limit our customer base. We noticed that eBay and Yahoo both don't
seem to hesitate to use Flash on their websites.

My personal thoughts is that most people have Flash enabled on their
computer so it shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have any comments or
real-life experiences with this issue?

My advice would be this:

By all means use Flash movies to enhance the appearance of your website, but
don't make people feel "left out" if they can't see them.

Never use Flash as the basis of your site navigation or for presenting
textual content, otherwise search engines will have trouble spidering your
site and indexing your keywords.

Think of it as the icing on the cake. Unless I'm mistaken, eBay and Yahoo
only use Flash for advertising, not for "proper" content.

 

[Sam Hughes]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we
don't want to limit our customer base.

If they are offered in _addition_ to your regular content, then there
should be no problem; of course, the site should still be done with HTML.

 

[Webcastmaker]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we don't
want to limit our customer base. We noticed that eBay and Yahoo both don't
seem to hesitate to use Flash on their websites.
My personal thoughts is that most people have Flash enabled on their
computer so it shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have any comments or
real-life experiences with this issue?

Man is this just asking for a yelling match?

Here are my views. (I am a flash lover)

If you want to make an all flash site, that would probably be a bad
idea.
If you want flash menus, then that would probably be a bad idea.
If you want to use flash to enhance your site with slide shows of the
apparel, or interactive dressing or something "snazzy" Then go for
it. Shit load of people love that kind of thing. Just be sure to
put some alt text in there explaining what <15% won't be able to see.

Replacing the Flash with a image should they not have activeX
controls turned on would probably be nice too.

Now let the flames begin....

 

[rf]

Here are my views. (I am a flash lover)

If you want to make an all flash site, that would probably be a bad
idea.
If you want flash menus, then that would probably be a bad idea.
If you want to use flash to enhance your site with slide shows of the
apparel, or interactive dressing or something "snazzy" Then go for
it. Shit load of people love that kind of thing. Just be sure to
put some alt text in there explaining what <15% won't be able to see.

Replacing the Flash with a image should they not have activeX
controls turned on would probably be nice too.

All extremely good points

A friend came round to my house a while ago. She ran over to one of the
computers to show me her new wiz bang web site.

It was sad to watch her face drop when said computer displayed a perfectly
blank page. I don't have the very latest macromedia stuff installed and her
page wouldn't play :-(

A further point: Make those slide shows user startable, just like sound
should be user startable. Anything moving draws the eye away from the
textual content.

Have a look at this: http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/ - my local ski
hill, where I go to get the latest snow report. That banner up the top is
nice but it makes the text difficult to read. Fortunately a quick click on
it stops it.

Unfortunately this does not work with the advertisement at the top right.
When I click on it I am taken to a totally flash page. This totally flash
page is, however, somewhat amusing

 

[Mark Parnell]

Have a look at this: http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/ - my local ski
hill, where I go to get the latest snow report. That banner up the top is
nice but it makes the text difficult to read. Fortunately a quick click on
it stops it.

Once you dodge around the menu.

Unfortunately this does not work with the advertisement at the top right.

There is actually a cross in the bottom right hand corner, but it is
rather small. That stops it.

When I click on it I am taken to a totally flash page. This totally flash
page is, however, somewhat amusing

??

Links to http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/snowreport/index.shtml
when I click on it - same Flash as front page.

 

[lime]

If you want to make an all flash site, that would probably be a bad

idea.
If you want flash menus, then that would probably be a bad idea.
If you want to use flash to enhance your site with slide shows of the
apparel, or interactive dressing or something "snazzy" Then go for
it. Shit load of people love that kind of thing. Just be sure to
put some alt text in there explaining what <15% won't be able to see.

Replacing the Flash with a image should they not have activeX
controls turned on would probably be nice too.

The last point is a great one - although how can this be done?

 

[rf]

Links to http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/snowreport/index.shtml
when I click on it - same Flash as front page.

Sorry, not totally top, the second box down in the right sidebar, key kids
etc. Goes to http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/nugget/index.htm

 

[rf]

lime wrote

The last point is a great one - although how can this be done?

The content of the object element.

<object ...><img src="alternate.gif">caption for alternate image</object>

 

[Mark Parnell]

Sorry, not totally top, the second box down in the right sidebar, key kids
etc. Goes to http://www.perisherblue.com.au/winter/nugget/index.htm

Can't see them - looks like they both require more recent versions of
Flash than the top ones - you'd think they'd at least be consistent!

 

[rf]

Mark Parnell

Can't see them - looks like they both require more recent versions of
Flash than the top ones - you'd think they'd at least be consistent!

These guys are continuously changing things. Seems they have a <shudder>
team </shudder> writing the site.

Last year they went from nice black text to that off white fixed size stuff.
When I complained that it is now harder to read they suggested that I, wait
for it, use my accessibility options to ignore their text colour and size.

Makes one either a) give up or b) go over there and pound some sense into
somebody

Of course I suggested that I may just go to Thredbo this year. No response

 

[Webcastmaker]

The content of the object element.
<object ...><img src="alternate.gif">caption for alternate image</object>

Remember, if they have the wrong version of flash they are not going
to see the image. Only if they don't use flash.

 

[lime]

Replacing the Flash with a image should they not have activeX

The content of the object element.

<object ...><img src="alternate.gif">caption for alternate image</object>

Too simple, thanks R.

 

[Toby Inkster]

Replacing the Flash with a image should they not have activeX
controls turned on would probably be nice too.

Why? My browser (indeed my OS) doesn't support ActiveX, but I can still
view Flash files (if I switch on Flash).

 

[Webcastmaker]

Why? My browser (indeed my OS) doesn't support ActiveX, but I can still
view Flash files (if I switch on Flash).

Let me rephrase, if they do not have flashed turned on.

 

[Uncle Pirate]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we don't
want to limit our customer base. We noticed that eBay and Yahoo both don't
seem to hesitate to use Flash on their websites.

My personal thoughts is that most people have Flash enabled on their
computer so it shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have any comments or
real-life experiences with this issue?

Do or don't, it's up to you. But as with javascript, new windows, etc.,
don't put vital information in these things. They don't bother me
because I won't see these things. I don't have the flash plugin and
figure I'm not missing much.

--
Stan McCann "Uncle Pirate"
Webmaster/Computer Center Manager, NMSU at Alamogordo
Cooordinator, Tularosa Basin Chapter, ABATE of NM AMA#758681
'94 1500 Vulcan (now wrecked) http://motorcyclefun.org/Dcp_2068c.jpg
A zest for living must include a willingness to die. - R.A. Heinlein

 

[jake]

Our site is written entirely in HTML. It is a clothing site. We are
considering updating it so that it contains some flash movies, but we don't
want to limit our customer base. We noticed that eBay and Yahoo both don't
seem to hesitate to use Flash on their websites.

My personal thoughts is that most people have Flash enabled on their
computer so it shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have any comments or
real-life experiences with this issue?

If it enhances the site -- yes -- go for it.

Just remember to provide an alternative for those who haven't got the
plugin loaded, if the content is essential to understanding.

regards.