Use Flash movies or not?

[js]

What is the latest thought on using Flash movies on FP websites? I'm
talking about just a Flash movie banner on each page for example.

What percentage of web sufers can view Flash on their browsers?

Is there a way to make a FP website detect if the user has Flash on their
computer and give a message of some sort if they don't have it?

thanks

 

[JDR]

JS,

I have seen numbers from 70% - 95 % supporting Flash, but the only number I
can be positive on is that it is not 100% supported.

I use Flash quite often, but usually only as "Intros" with a "Skip Intro"
link and also as Multi - Media presentations, where I clearly state that in
order to view these presentations, the Flash Player must be installed.
Personally I prefer Flash over Java Applets and that is why I use it.

To detect if a Flash Player is installed on an end-users box, you could use
Java Script and then redirect them to a non-flash page.

 

[Murray]

Or put the redirect into the Flash Action script so that if they have it
they get redirected....