Flash Website - would you?

Would you/do you have a flash website?

  • Yes

    Votes: 3 8.1%

  • No

    Votes: 34 91.9%
  • Total voters
    37
TopBanana

TopBanana

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Tim
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Hi all,
I've been looking (for a friend) at a particular company which sells websites and a content management system. It's a nice, easy to use CMS (although it doesn't allow you to edit pages as HTML - this isn't a major problem), with lots of very nicely designed front end themes/templates, and a great integration of multimedia... however...
You end up with a site that is built in flash. Now the clever bods at the company claim that all content is trawlable by Google so that SEO isn't a problem. They also have a dedicated mobile version of the site so you're not excluding users on iphones etc.

Friend is currently using a wordpress based site, however it's a bit clunky as it's been put together small bit at a time rather than sitting down and designing something properly.

But the question is would you, personally, have a flash website? And what are your reasons for your views?
 
Flash is dying (even though I said it wouldn't 6 months ago). If you want to invest in a system that less and less people will see your website in, then go ahead.
 
arad85 said:
Flash is dying (even though I said it wouldn't 6 months ago). If you want to invest in a system that less and less people will see your website in, then go ahead.
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its dying in its current form but it is taking new forms.

For example adobe air for mobile provides a great solution meaning you can code your app in one programming language and use it on ios, android and blackberry whilst also produing an app that can run on a desktop. Thats very appealing for developers.

For web, its done - don't go anywhere near a flash based website
 
makes me laugh out loud really... why have flash and another site for non flash users..

why not just have a website everyone can see.. doesnt matter what they are using.. PC, MAC , atari, amiga, phone, mobile or the powerr of mind over....shouldnt matter if they are on windows 3.11 or windows 7 or wahetver it is now

just have a website everyone can see :)
 
KIPAX said:
makes me laugh out loud really... why have flash and another site for non flash users..
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its not two sites, its just a section (about 5 lines if i remember rightly) of code in the flash slideshow that loads instead when it sees flash player is not available. not rocket science or a pain to do ;)
 
neil_g said:
its not two sites, its just a section (about 5 lines if i remember rightly) of code in the flash slideshow that loads instead when it sees flash player is not available. not rocket science or a pain to do ;)
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whoooosh read the thread :)

if you ahve a website thats made in flash and an alternative website for people who havent got flash... thats two versions of a website...takes more than 5 lines...
 
KIPAX said:
whoooosh read the thread :)

if you ahve a website thats made in flash and an alternative website for people who havent got flash... thats two versions of a website...takes more than 5 lines...
Click to expand...

i did, i cant see any mention of running two sites to get around non-flash browsers?

seeing as you didnt quote what you were referring to i assumed you were talking about my comment.
 
neil_g said:
i did, i cant see any mention of running two sites to get around non-flash browsers?.
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its in the OPs post and the general theme of flash websites. oh yeagh its ok cus i have another version for non flash... thats the regular theme (even you touched on it albiet not for a full website) and as I say touched on in the OPs post

my point is.. why not have just one thing everyone can see?
 
So is Flash really dying on desktop browsers?

This website company converts your webpage into a mobile/HTML version, so it doesn't involve any more work from the website admin.

I've just checked turned off flash on IE and opened the HTML demo site, and it's not brilliant (although looks good on smaller screen mobile devices). But how many people aren't able to view flash when using a desktop browser? (It looks ok on iphone and ipad).
 
And, should flash cease to be supported by the big browsers, surely this company will do something for it's customers (who are paying a monthly hosting/admin fee on top of the initial design/purchase cost)?
 
TopBanana said:
I've just checked turned off flash on IE and opened the HTML demo site, and it's not brilliant .
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exactly my point... rather a website that looks good and decent on everyones screen ..not just people wiht flash
 
TopBanana said:
And, should flash cease to be supported by the big browsers, surely this company will do something for it's customers (who are paying a monthly hosting/admin fee on top of the initial design/purchase cost)?
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one thing you will find on the internet... nothing is futureproof.. as to what the host will do.. well thats what you ask them before you sign up :)
 
KIPAX said:
exactly my point... rather a website that looks good and decent on everyones screen ..not just people wiht flash
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But how many people don't have flash (excluding mobile users)?
 
TopBanana said:
But how many people don't have flash (excluding mobile users)?
Click to expand...

No idea.... and I guess the importance of the issue depends on what you want to do with your website..I woudlnt touch flash sites with a bargepole.. suppose someone without flash comes along wanting to buy pictures or make contact for work.. I wouldnt want to lose business because i wanted a flash site..

if you dont care that some people may not see your site then flash is all well and good... but if you want to maximise then why make a website that even one person cant see?
 
I totally agree that it's a better idea to have a single website which is viewable by everyone. However I'm just curious as to how much of a problem it really is. I'm aware that I'm asking this question on a sub-forum with a lot of very technologically able members, and I think that that probably skews the responses somewhat (e.g. if you ask about operating systems the standard answer will be to use 64bit, despite the fact that most people in the country are probably using 32bit without any yearning for 64).
 
but the thing is, there are so many other options for you that dont use flash so why would you choose one that has any issues at all, when you can choose one that has no issues.

instead of asking how much of a problem is it - the fact that there is a problem should answer your question - you have a choice to go for a different solution which has no issues so why would you even contemplate one that has any issues at all?
 
It's interesting though that using Flash is a bit of a non starter as some devices don't support it (despite it being an old technology). But then you can't produce a site in HTML5 because it's too new (and unratified) for most people's browsers. So you're stuck developing to the lowest common denominator.
 
TopBanana said:
It's interesting though that using Flash is a bit of a non starter as some devices don't support it (despite it being an old technology). But then you can't produce a site in HTML5 because it's too new (and unratified) for most people's browsers. So you're stuck developing to the lowest common denominator.
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well that depends on what features of html5 are used. It's not like it has blanket unsupport. The people that are running versions of browser that dont support html5 are also unlikely to have the latest version of flash player
 
TopBanana said:
It's interesting though that using Flash is a bit of a non starter as some devices don't support it (despite it being an old technology). But then you can't produce a site in HTML5 because it's too new (and unratified) for most people's browsers. So you're stuck developing to the lowest common denominator.
Click to expand...

I'd have to agree with Joe, your friend is painting himself into a corner and asking how long before the paint dries. He should be starting his painting in a corner thAt allows him a door to leave by.

Just because he's in a bad place now with Wordpress, doesn't mean that Wordpress is the problem. There are some brilliant website alternatives out there without buying into problems.
 
The best answer really depends on what his users are using (he is using analytics right?) if lots of his visitors are browsing on phones/iPads a Flash website may not be the best idea. It's better to work with facts and figures than the opinion of a bunch of people on a forum.
 
Craikeybaby said:
The best answer really depends on what his users are using (he is using analytics right?) if lots of his visitors are browsing on phones/iPads a Flash website may not be the best idea. It's better to work with facts and figures than the opinion of a bunch of people on a forum.
Click to expand...

i dont think that is the best data to use at all. That just tells him what his users are using right now - not in the future. Everyone knows that html5 is the future of websites. you want to create a solution thats future proof as much as possible not just address the now
 
Look at the increase in mobile devices being used to browse the web, even at home when my laptop is beside me I generally use the phone/ iPad. The flash party is over it just hasn't gone home yet
 
Poll seems to be 9 to 1 against pretty consistently. Not conclusive or statistically significant, but it does suggest a majority of people against the horror that is Flash.
 
HTML5 is wonderful! :D
 
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