I concur about the music set to off by default. I hate loading up a site and getting BLASTED by their music.

While I have no problem with Flash.....if Flash is a "vital" part of your site, then that is time to sit down and take a good look at your site, and the services you offer.

Your site should never rely on one technology so heavily, that it becomes the vital aspect of the site.

I think flash looks good on a site if it doesn't do something that normal HTML or Javascript can. Flash sounds for buttons can sometimes be nice but music almost always sounds bad. If you do include music make sure it has a mute option for the user.

I am always fascinated with flash sites, it just makes them look so cathcy. Put me down for Yes for flash, but no for annyoing sounds!

Hello,

Flash would be a great idea for a Media / Music website. Personally, I don't encourage the idea of flash with sound on for a web hosting business.

Reasons:
- There's no combination between the service you offer (hosting) and actual flash media (design). Since your customers are purchasing web hosting from your website and they're not purchasing the flash movie. They want to see your server specs, prices, technology information, etc.

- Many people have slow connections. If they are wasting many minutes to load your website, I bet they will leave it. And when you put a plan for your business, you must consider the balance between low-speed connections, and high-speed connections.

In nutshell, I do not recommend flash on hosting websites. And I rather vote for clean websites, with fast load time and easy-navigation. And remember, with php & mysql you can always add the "interactive" thing.

Thanks.

I think a little flash does not hurt anyone, I like flash. Although websites that have a flash intro load as soon as you open them, thats what I do not like with no skip button or anything.

flash with sound entices the visitor

Not this visitor!

Not this visitor either. A wee bit of flash ... I don't mind too much. But I've kept my speakers off for years now ... I hate going to a site and unexpectedly having sound blasting at me. I only turn the speakers on when I decide I want to hear something .... not when someone else tries to decide for me.

And flash sites ... I will instantly surf to another site ... unless there is something real important to me that is contained on the site ... then I will suffer through it. I will hate it ... but will put up with it out of necessity.

JMHO
Peter

Flash has both its advantages and disadvantages,

It looks nice , but too much flash makes your site slow down at slower net speeds