Flash or No Flash that is the question....

[Silver Rabbit]

If you had the choice, would you make a site as a flash or as just plain HTML.

I think that Flash would be greate to work in, but I am not going for anything big just a simple site, but Flash would be greate for all the graphics. But I am not plaining on having any movement on my pages, so Y both with flash, when you could make all the graphics as a Background Image and it would look pretty much the same.

What do you think would be better to do????

[maxximilian]

I love flash, but I have found that unless the flash is constructed very well, a flash-only site can be difficult to navigate and slow to load. My personal opinion is a combination. Flash for graphics, and HTML for text, links, etc. I use a Flash intro (with a skip option), but my main page is all HTML. Most people still use dial-up, so most of your visitors will be waiting around if your Flash file is large. I'm on cable, but I don't design for broadband-only people.

Also...if your site is one that gets updated often, you may find it easier to update HTML pages rather than editing a large flash file (unless you are good). Changing something as simple as a link (new URL) means opening up the Flash or Swish "working" file, finding and editing, exporting the .SWF, and uploading. I change pages all the time...adding and removing. If I used a Flash menu, then it would get to be a real pain after awhile trying to reflect all the changes.

[Silver Rabbit]

Thanx'
You realy helped me in making up my mind....

[Silver Rabbit]

I take back everything I said about Flash being great for graphics!!!!
They tryed to make image creation easy, yet it just messes you up all the time!!!!

Does anyone know how to make the functions, like how you make a line and when you go to make another it sucks it in, stop!!!
You figure, create a new layer and lock the editing on the others, but that does not work.

If I lost you, then just forget it.

[MishY]

Flash is awesome if done correctly. It's also excellent IMO only if the site needs it to be there.

For menus etc. I would much rather use DHTML as it's quicker loading usually.

Examples of it being done excellently :

www.oohbitey.com

www.chluaid.com

[Silver Rabbit]

That www.oohbitey.com is probly the coolest site I have ever seen!!!!

[Steven.Bentley]

Flash has its place, but bear in mind two major problems:

Search Engines can't spider content inside it

It's not Accessible - despite what Macromedia promised for MX

[Silver Rabbit]

I, myself do not believe that Flash should be used to make a site, when I think of Flash, I think of Animations or games, but not something that is ment to hold and store information.

But it still looks cool