Remember the days of Choice?

05 Jun

Posted by tjmapes under General

This is a screenshot I took from the Hot Hot Heat website. When this fork in the road comes up, I first get upset because as a user, before I can even get the information I wanted to get, I have to click, or make a choice on whether I’d like the flash or html version of the website.

Personally, 99% of the time I choose the Html version because I don’t like the distractions brought on with the flash side, and if the site is actually offering an html verison, that basically means I can do everything I want to from that side of the fence as I could on the other.

I thought these days of choice were pratcically over. I haven’t seen too many sites like this around latley at least.

As much as this is more of a personal rant I’d still be interested in finding out which path you choose… Flash / HTML?

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5 Responses

Robbie G

June 5th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
1

I always chose Flash. I always correlated it with newer and seeing the full potential of the site.
Andy Brudtkuhl

June 6th, 2007 at 9:12 am
2

I personally hate completely flash based websites - especially brochure sites. Not to mention your SEO potential drops it just sucks as a user. Flash is good for applications like media players and interactive games and tutorials.

If I come across a company’s website that is entirely flash and shows me a load indicator when I go to it I leave immediately.

Does that happen with an HTML site? No.
TJ Mapes

June 8th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
3

I agree with you for the most part Andy. Another exception that works well using flash are portfolio sites, movie sites etc. Sites that rely on video content can use some flash to their advantage too.
Janet Green

June 9th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
4

I will almost always choose HTML for the really stupid reason that for awhile, choosing the Flash version would bring up a prompt that I didn’t have the latest version of Flash installed. I’d never want to take the time to go and take care of that, and then when I did, seems like the sites that had prompted me to do so still didn’t accept my installation as being “current.” That’s not been a problem since I got a new computer last year. I like Flash as a navigation element, but I *hate* when it’s used solely for splash pages (which I always skip). ~ Janet
Phil J Leitch

June 16th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
5

I too will immediately close the window or hit back if I hit a site that is built entirely in or mostly in Flash. Not intersted. So that means when given the choice I obviously will choose the HTML one.