Web Design in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Disadvantages

Of course, you must also consider the downside to Flash.

A plug-in player is required.

Standard Flash files require the Flash Player to be installed on the user’s machine, though all major browsers come standard with some version of the Flash Player. The words “plug-in required,” however, are enough to make many clients say “no way” without a second thought. Although Flash reaches over 98% of all browsers, your client might have an older player that doesn’t support newer features you are attempting to use, so double-check with them before beginning development.

Resisting Plug-In Resistance

How do you respond when clients say no upon hearing a plug-in is required? To its credit, Macromedia has anticipated such resistance and has responded with some strategies. For example, the Publish feature in Flash 4 and higher (previously the Aftershock utility) makes it easy to generate code that detects the specific player version. Flash 8 has made it even easier for both detection and update, which can now occur seamlessly behind the scenes.

Additionally, there are alternatives. Flash Player Java Edition enables Flash files to play on any Java-enabled browser. The Flash authoring tool also allows you to export your animation as an animated GIF, although you may need to optimize it in a dedicated GIF animation utility.

Older Flash Players and .swf files are not 508 compliant.

Using Flash movies for document headlines and navigation introduces the same problems as using static graphics ...