Smart web developers know that not all clients have equal capabilities. They may have aging computers stuffed to the rafters with seven years of family photos, music downloads and game software. They may have slow or unreliable connections, including, in extreme cases, dialup. It still exists, and in the current economy may even make a comeback as people look for ways to cut expenses. Flash is fun, professional and slick, but it's also impossible to load on a computer that has been optimized for performance to counteract circumstances that slow down operation. Some users, tired of slow-loading banners, have opted to turn off flash. And some simply haven't updated their version of flash and instead of seeing your website, they will get an error message telling them to download and install a new version.
Web users have little patience, and often don't know what to do if their flash is out of date or the website won't load. Offering an alternative is a good way to retain these potential clients and encourage them to return to your site. The more irritation they encounter, the more likely they are to leave and never revisit.
