DougBarned

I agree. As said, I like your site, but I agree with chris_17 in that it could have been done with HTML & JavaScript. Also though, as said above, you made a good point that you are a flash designer :)

In my experience people want flash because it's flash, not because it adds anything or because they need it.

Oh, I don' t know what it does, but could you try 'thanking' me using the button bottom right on the code post? It would be my first ;)

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simplepop

Exactly, Flash is great for all sorts of things, its brilliant for promotional content, photo gallerys ect.

The more complex a website is, the more complex the scripting becomes in flash, and so many people only go so far....Hence all the un-updateable un search-engine freindly flash sites out there. Which has one good side for me, i can fix that for those people who still want there flash site for the sake of being flash.

As web designers, we can respect the fact, that client might just want what he wants, because he thinks its cool, he might not care about all the SEO and stuff so much, some people do just want cool.... But, we should also try to inform our client on whats best for them. Its really just a case of getting to know your client, and many many times, ive passed off work to someone else, because ive known the clients site shouldnt be flash.

And haha, I do thank you! forgot this side had that lil function.

chris_17

I can understand why you did in Flash, I'm not questioning that, however if a client came to me asking for advice whether to go for a flash website or HTML coded, I would obviously say HTML, it has far more benefits over Flash, and you say it has it's advantages for photo galleries, it does but the majority of people use and find Lightbox or other JS galleries a lot better to use.

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Front-End Design, Development and Web Standards
chrisborrowdale.co.uk
@chrisborrowdale

simplepop

If a client came to me and asked me asking for advice whether to go for a flash website or HTML coded, I would obviously state the most common uses for flash websites, and ask the client if that is something they would feel happy with and usefull for them, if not then i would recomend from a group of carefully chosen other designers to assist them with there CSS HTML websites.

You may say, HTML has far more benefits than flash, but could that be because your technical ability in flash, isnt well practiced? Im happy to admit that i dont have a great technical ability in HTML, but im fully aware of how usefull it is in this market. I Completly agree HTML should be used for a large majority of websites. But i wouldnt tell my cleint not to use flash, just because i didnt know how....

In this world today, there is a huge varity of people all wanting difrent and specific things, people who have learnt difrent and specific things. But just because you and i are from difrent aspects of web development, shouldnt mean you have the right to tell me what im doing isnt the "best" or "correct" way to do something.

(lightbox's are very over used - Usually by graphics designers(Not web designers), who need a nice lil portfolio site that they can design and build themselves, Web designers, should usually find there own method out of the many thousands to display an image....What ever happend to creativity?)

I came asking for critism for my website as a whole. it is a website, and it would be recognised as a website. CSS and javascript are also used to make websites. In this case it wasnt....I applogise. but you must understand, there is a HUGE market for Flash websites, Flash development, Flash animations, Flash actionscripting. All of which my portfolio demonstrates, and i push myself to get work in those areas....

IF i was using a CSS website.....then what would be the point in claiming to be a flash animation/developer/actionscripter?

chris_17

Sounds to me like you're arguing with yourself, I have given you my opinion on the site, and I'm not saying Flash is terrible etc. I have a basic knowledge of Flash, enough to integrate certain parts into a Website if needed, however I can find better and more effective ways of doing it, in my opinion. I agree that Flash websites can look very good, especially for promo sites for new movies/games etc. However I deal with 'normal' businesses and clients who require something to show their services or products and a HTML/CSS website is sufficient.

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Front-End Design, Development and Web Standards
chrisborrowdale.co.uk
@chrisborrowdale

simplepop

When i posted this topic, i specifically chose to put "flash website critique" as opposed "website critique" not for the reason to gather information on weather people think flash is better than css. Because that is an argument which wont ever get solved and will always happen, its down to the people to use the right software for the right idea.

But! i posted with "flash critique" to hopefully make it clear that this is a flash website, to attract flash users to give a good comment on the more techinical points of my work. You wouldnt usually find me commenting on work in an area that im no practiced in.

Also hoped to make it clear, that im well aware the usual greeting when posting a flash website is "you should of used CSS" so i even wrote the line - 'flash isnt everyones cup of tea...'

But please dont tell me i should of done all my hard work, in a completly diferent method, because of certain downsides to using flash. Which i hoped would of been clear im aware of...and infact what i strive to figure out.

And i assure you, theres nothing abnormal about the business i work with...

chris_17

Read it again, I never told you how to code your site, it you know how to use flash and that is the only way you know how to create a website then go for it.

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Front-End Design, Development and Web Standards
chrisborrowdale.co.uk
@chrisborrowdale

simplepop

"I would obviously say HTML, it has far more benefits over Flash"

You told me this, before giving any sort of opinuon on the work that you should of been commenting on, Fair enough, you told me it was small and alot of white space. Thank you. Ive taken that into consideration. But the rest of what you said was pretty out of context, most of my replys were not aimed at you, but a general comment towards the way flash is taken on these days.

I Feel flash's reptuation has only been tarnshised, by the people who try to be allrounders in webdesign, and cover every base, The standard CSS XHTML freelance web designer will offer you, Flash animations, flash banners advertisments, even flash websites when they have to. But so what, there just trying to make there way forward. But these peoples passion usually lies elsewhere but with flash, so the work never has the same effort, as opposed to someone who endulges in everything flash. And because this, they most likly wont charge as much because its not there main work. And this ruins it for the people who have chosen there main carrer to be flash based. and , i wont offer someone a cheap html CSS website because im not all that good at it. Ill leave it to the people who will enjoy that work.