Flash vs Functionality

Many Flash websites look really cool but if you’re browsing a web page it can get annoying.  When you visit a website built in flash you might get a message like the ones shown below.

• skip into
• please disable any popup blockers
• minimum recommended screen resolution: 1024 x 768 px.
• this site requires Flash Player 8 or later.
• GET FLASH PLAYER

To most people this would a no brainer but for some other people it might be enough for them to leave your website.
When someone visits your website they don’t want to be told what their settings should be or what software they need loaded to browse your site.

It usually takes people less than a second to know if they want to stay on your website.  Giving them instructions on how to view your website is almost like telling them “it looks really cool but you have to download some stuff to make it work”.
I’m not trying to talk you out of a flash website, we have few that we’ve built.  I’m just letting you know the cons of having a flash website.