Visiting a new web page

[beavereater]

When you look at someones page, whether it be a friends page or a page you actually intend to use for information, does it attract you more if they have a FLASH intro to it, or if EVERYTHING is in flash. Or do you prefer just basic HTML...what do you look for in a good informative web page, graphically??

[galactica]

doesnt really bother me, but i bet if you had a slower connection a flash page would be a pain!

[sitlet]

i almost always will skip the flash intro. for whatever reason im going to that site, i want to get to the meat of it, so i just skip the intro to get to the main page.

[Solarjetman]

i almost always will skip the flash intro.

Same here.

Now I don't really mind if they have a flash menu to navigate with, but if it is nothing more than a video that plays, I can do without it.

I also don't like the "meat" of the webpage in flash. Unless the meat is animation, it should be HTML.

[stiltman]

i almost always will skip the flash intro.

Same here.

Now I don't really mind if they have a flash menu to navigate with, but if it is nothing more than a video that plays, I can do without it.

I also don't like the "meat" of the webpage in flash. Unless the meat is animation, it should be HTML.

Me hate flash....Flash vary vary bad...Hmmm Flash bad!

[d_unbeliever]

i like flash intro...nice to look at and always entertained me...good for those with fast connection...

but like others said, it's the content of the site that matters...

[mujahid7ia]

i almost always will skip the flash intro.

Same here.

Now I don't really mind if they have a flash menu to navigate with, but if it is nothing more than a video that plays, I can do without it.

I also don't like the "meat" of the webpage in flash. Unless the meat is animation, it should be HTML.

Me hate flash....Flash vary vary bad...Hmmm Flash bad!

definitley HTML. I agree.

[beavereater]

So lets say you go to a site like this

http://www.craftgrafix.com/awakening/index.html

are you not at all interested, and would much rather have an HTML version right off the bat??? Also, what about when they add music to their site. Anyone find that pleasing or annoying!??

[thecoalman]

I think your answer lies in what the site is about. Unless your site is say for entertainment or about entertainment intros, flashing gifs or any junk that prevents the user from getting to the content is useless and sometimes harmful. This becomes particularly true if the visitor is on a 56k, most likley they are just going to leave.

As for music that's worse, The only kind site I would ever consider putting background music on is a band site, and then only on a hi-bandwith version.

[808smokey]

FLASH intro's are only "cool" if that's what you want see. Meaning if I want to buy a new Divx DVD player from bestbuy I don't want to watch 30 second flash about car stereos. I want to go straight to dvd players in the shortest amount of time possible and buy and be done. I always skip flash intros because even with a cable modem it can take a while (10-15 seconds) so the poor bastards on dial-up will definitly be hating your site. I like straight HTML. I would only do FLASH intros if the site has something to do with it. Like movie trailer sites and web design or some kind of gaming site. But information and shopping online should be fast loading not all full of "bells and whistles".

Just my .02¢

cool link you posted that was actually a very good flash intro. :P

[stiltman]

So lets say you go to a site like this

http://www.craftgrafix.com/awakening/index.html

are you not at all interested, and would much rather have an HTML version right off the bat??? Also, what about when they add music to their site. Anyone find that pleasing or annoying!??

Sound you can't mute or stop is even more annoying than flash!!!

[beavereater]

The reason I ask is because I have been trying to design my own site for my English conversation school here in Japan. Most other schools have a small intro and then go straight into HTML. I wanted to do something that would catch their interest right away. My site includes all info about the school, teachers, lessons and prices. We also have a photo gallery. I took the flash intro off...and now just use a flash navigation bar. Still, not as professional as I would like it to be so I considered going with a pro. They are gonna charge 500 bucks for the flash intro and I don't know how much for the rest (If I go through with it)...BUT...if the opinion is that nice HTML would be better suited, then maybe I will stick to that.

[flaninacupboard]

but presentation is culturally biased. just take a look at the difference between sony.com and sony.co.jp - that's a veritable flash wonderland!

[thecoalman]

You can always make a link from your main page to your animation, if somone wants to see it they can click on it. If they want to avoid it there not stuck watching it or having to click thru it.

[mujahid7ia]

The reason I ask is because I have been trying to design my own site for my English conversation school here in Japan. Most other schools have a small intro and then go straight into HTML. I wanted to do something that would catch their interest right away. My site includes all info about the school, teachers, lessons and prices. We also have a photo gallery. I took the flash intro off...and now just use a flash navigation bar. Still, not as professional as I would like it to be so I considered going with a pro. They are gonna charge 500 bucks for the flash intro and I don't know how much for the rest (If I go through with it)...BUT...if the opinion is that nice HTML would be better suited, then maybe I will stick to that.

Ihave broadband, but I remember dial-up. I used to hate when there was no HTML/Lite version of a flash site. However, in Japan, is there a higher precentage of broadband users than in the US? Probably yes, I'm guessing.

All flash site will be a bit expresive with a pro, I think.