Flash for website

[ultra big al]

Hi , Question for starting a photography website what are the pro /cons on using a flash website which one is easier to build A flash site or the other format.
thanks in advance
Alan

[shaggymatt]

Pro:
Pretty

Con:
Won't work on any mobile platforms, which is huge right now.
Flash player must be installed on client (yes, people don't have it - my gallery site uses it and I get the ? all the time).

[wyofizz]

If you do it make sure they can click on a link to bypass flash show right away if they want. Flash is nice the first time to a site but if it slows people down from accessing the actual content then it's a liability.

Dave

[Hikin Mike]

Generally a 100% Flash website may have problems with SEO.

Some users hate Flash and will click away...

[Karl Johnston]

Lot of places at peoples workplaces and government workstations have safeguards against installing flash player.

So people in the workplace can't look at your site ..or government. Which is actually a big downside, depending on what you do.

[T2000]

Flash is a proprietary plugin and does not conform to "web standards" (http://www.w3.org/Consortium/)

Uses need to have the flash plug installed to see your site, though Adobe estimates that in excess of 90% of web users have the plugin installed. (http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/version_penetration.html)

iPhone (and other mobile devices) doesn't have flash capability, though it may happen.
(http://www.gearlive.com/news/article/q108-why-is-apple-stalling-flash-on-the-iphone/)

Flash can do tricks that are difficult or not possible with HTML/CSS or even with javascript.

Flash sites can have more page weight and, therefore, be slower then WELL WRITTEN HTML/CSS.

In my view, flash is harder to learn then HTML/CSS + javascript.

The "people don't like flash" really means people don't like crappy flash sites. Flash sites appear to be very popular among photographers.

If your going to build your own you'll be less frustrated with HTML/CSS. If you're farming it out then I would look into both and decide which suits your budget and design sensibility.

[shaggymatt]

AJAX can do a lot of the menu presentation formats that are smooth flowing like flash. You can do slideshows that don't utilize flash and conform to standards.

[hypertech]

I'm in the early stages of working on our portfolio section of our website. I think I'm going to go with flash and a mobile website using a script to redirect mobile users to the mobile website.

[bwolford]

Generally a 100% Flash website may have problems with SEO.

Some users hate Flash and will click away...
+1 Unless you offer a non-flash interface, I'm outta your site faster than your flash firing.

[Josh101]

what about the idea of offering both flash, and standard HTML view on the home page, so that users can choose their interface before entering the actual site

[photoguy6405]

The "people don't like flash" really means people don't like crappy flash sites.
That's what "people who like flash" always say. ;) :D

[hypertech]

what about the idea of offering both flash, and standard HTML view on the home page, so that users can choose their interface before entering the actual site

I have thought about that, but I really hate click to enter screens.

You have to think about who your target audience is and what you are trying to accomplish with the site. I'm not trying to impress people on here, I'm trying to engage potential clients. I am not a huge fan of flash, but right now I am leaning that way for mine.

[kb9tdj]

That's what "people who like flash" always say. ;) :D

Flashblock is the number one reason I use Firefox. I simply cannot stand Flash and other animations on web sites.

[photoguy6405]

what about the idea of offering both flash, and standard HTML view on the home page, so that users can choose their interface before entering the actual site
That makes it more complicated than it needs to be, IMHO.