Dump Adobe Flash NOW? - Comments Page 2

Thank you Bob for quick sane redress to CNET urge dump Flash I did but HTML5 doesn't play all on Facebook so I'm glad I can safely resume Flash on IE with the caveat to dump it as soon as industry-wide, and meanwhile keep it updated timely.

WINDOWS 8.1 "no Flash," Robert A, is intermittent though embedded. Good resort your add'l user finding Flash working. "No Flash" regularly on our Win8.1 = one reason just bought a Win7 w/ DVD player dumped by Win8 though has a drive even freeware won't play.

Hopefully WINDOWS 10 free upgrade end of July won't continue Flashius Interruptus, though I doubt returning the DVD player to us. I won't install it til we hear from Bob :)

HTML5-coded video seems the best answer to problems with Flash, but a substantial number of websites still use Flash, and intentionally burden users with advertisements which run Flash, as well. At some news sites like cbsnews.com, the situation is nearly out of control, and loading only a few tabs for stories imposes a huge RAMload/bandwidth system burden.

In my own case, since I need an active Firefox Flash plugin for important Flash websites, I install the Flash plug-in with the option for manual activation ("Ask to Activate" on the drop-down menu under Tools/Add-Ons/Plug-ins/Options). On a Flash-driven website, this automatically renders a screen prompt which must be answered to run any Flash item ("Ask Me" or "Ask Me and Remember Choice").

This arrangement has not proved burdensome, and I have the bonus of loading content, first, without automatically loading RAM and bandwidth-robbing Flash advertisements, as well. On arrival at each website, after I have loaded content, any other Flash-generated prompt usually indicates an annoyance wants to run, which I am happy to ignore.

Just yesterday I had run a search on your website for the latest on this, and here it is today! Very timely. Thanks.

I uninstalled flash & the flash browser plugin about 6 months ago. Have not missed it (cuts down on a lot of autostart movies and ads). I also uninstalled Adobe Reader mainly because of the constant updates but I realized it was unsafe. Uninstalled Java 2 years ago and haven't missed it either.

If we get rid of Flash,and consider getting rid of Java,then what about site`s that use them? People will have a time viewing videos,and place`s like Pogo.com,(which many people subscribe to and play)will probably no longer be available for us! Someone needs to seriously think this thing over,and consider a simple solution.

Many of the sites I use have Java based programs, like Parachat. Many videos won't play without Flash. And Windows 10 is dropping Windows Media Player and to play DVDs it will require a separate program at a $ price which will be compatible with Win 10 . As well, Windows 10 like Win 8/8.1 won't allow Linux to run alongside it or on a split double boot hard drive. On all of my computer Win 7 and prior I have run Linux Ubuntu on a partition/double boot. Sometimes progress and creating something new takes away from many what has been useful and served a purpose. Now, at great expense, many of us older computer users will have to upgrade, purchase new computers, printers, software etc. which will not be of any advantage or usefulness. No matter what OS or programs are developed, there will be vulnerabilities in them which hackers can exploit. I like the saying: If it Works, Don't Fix It!

EDITOR'S NOTE: A couple of corrections... (1) You can use the free VLC Media Player (http://askbobrankin.com/what_is_vlc_media_player.html) as a replacement for Windows Media Player. (2) You CAN run Windows 8 (or Windows 10) in a dual-boot configuration with Linux. You just have to turn off the UEFI Secure Boot option. See http://www.networkworld.com/article/2900502/microsoft-subnet/linux-users-alarmed-over-windows-10-lockout.html

Amazon Prime or Netflix, I forgot which one, strongly suggested I install Silverlite. I assumed this was similar to flash. I got tired of having to tell it to use flash at the start of each video so I gave in and downloaded it. So far it's been running fine so this may be an alternative to flash.

I have given up on Flash. it is a power hog that is in constant need to be upgraded. It slows down websites and eats up data when on cellular. HTML5 is so much better, I don't understand why websites still insist on using Flash. I uninstalled it over a year ago and seldom miss it. If the website uses flash, I send them a message asking them to give up on it.

Editor noted free VLC Media Player as a replacement for Win8-10's dropped Windows Media player for DVD drive. But like others I've seen comment online, VLC didn't work on my newish Win8.1 DVD drive Samsung deceptively supplied w/o software to run it.

So I bought a Win7 Home with DVD player, no screen tiles or hybrid Win8-10, & no unfixably embedded Flash failing to function intermittently on IE.