I didn't read the apparently heated debate on this subject and I have no idea why the iPad doesn't support Flash.

I can say that I have had two occasions in the last few days when I have had to ditch the iPad and fire up my PC to view a web pages the had Flash content. One bad aspect is that you don't even get told what the problem is, the page just doesn't work.

I accept that the iPad is not a notebook replacement, but one thing it should do is allow you to surf the www without having to reach for a PC.

IMHO the solution is simply for websites not to use Flash.

Flash is a nuisance, a pain in the a...

Sorry if this sounds like I'm ranting, but I have disabled Flash on my Mac and I simply refuse to use websites that require you to install it.
Flash is a huuuge security threat, it opens backdoors into your system enabling all sorts of trojans, virii and spyware to infect it.
Therefore I'm utterly grateful that Apple doesn't allow Flash on the iPad. And I sincerely hope that this won't change.

Thanks, I am interested to know what the issues are.

Oh, and one important point I forgot to mention...
Flash drains your batteries in next to no time.
Take a Notebook and run Flash on it. You'll notice that it gets much warmer than usual and your battery won't last very long.
Imagine that on an iPad...
Or just ask someone who uses Flash on an Android-phone.
They have their experience with that issue already.

Then, with all due respect, rather than start a whole new thread on a subject that has been discussed at length, you should take the time to read through the other thread that has been closed. Whatever "issues" there are with Flash, it has already been pretty well beaten to death in that thread.

Here is the link -- http://www.ipadforums.net/ipad-general-discussions/10125-flash-why-so-important-ipad.html

There are 93 posts so it will take some time to absorb what is being said. Obviously some people are very passionate about the issue and are not shy when it comes to expressing their opinions.

Well, you can surf most of the web, but the bottom line is that the iPad cant handle a lot of flash content, so its not supported. I have used flash on a desktop for years and even developed some limited flash content. I have encountered a few issue, but not many. The main problem is that mobile device processors are not to the point where they can run all flash content well. I think a better solution would be for companies to make mobile versions of their sites that don't use flash.

My Droid X can run Flash fine. All these other posts about security threats, draining your battery, etc are just talking points for Apple fanboys. There's no good reason why we can't have the choice to run Flash.

I don't see what the debate is for. Flash is a on the web in a lot of web sites. The iPad don't support flash. Therefore, iPad is a crippled web browsing tool.

The fact that flash is an inferior display method and is a memory hog, is irrelevant, it is used on the web and a complete web browsing tool must support it.

I like my iPad but I DO NOT use it to browse the web. The fact that they included a web browser is ridiculous.

Agreed. And that's really the issue for me. We should have the choice to run what we want and don't want.

I agree 100% on the first two sentences, but totaly lost the track on the third one.

I agree with you 1991-C4.

Every time I see someone start a new thread moaning and groaning about the iPad not using Flash, it just amazes me.

Both sides may have valid points. The bottom line is, the iPad really doesn't do Flash right now. Nothing can be done about that at this time.

Too bad we can't have it automated so every time a new Flash thread starts, this image is automatically posted in the thread:

Here we ago again.

Look, Flash is NEVER coming to the iPad. Period. All the moaning and whining in the world is not gonna change that fact.

There are work-arounds, but they have already been mentioned in the other thread--or threads.

The iPad is selling incredibly well. That is a fact. If flash was as big an issue as some try to make it out to be that would not be happening.




Michael

I know right? Here we go again. AND there are some that actually bought the iPad knowing full well it didn't have flash and still bitch.

Go figure ~

What's not to understand, the web browser on the iPad is a half-assed browser without flash.

I don't do things that are half-assed, be they machines or humans.

Do you have the iPad?

ha, yes. Like I have said many times before, its not a deal-breaker for me at all. If Apple cant guarantee with some confidence that your wont have a bad experience with something like flash they arent going to support it. Thats ok with me, thats the business decision they have made and it probably makes sense considering the performance limits of current mobile processors.

The only thing that bugs me about the whole thing is their respose to demonize flash - to try to solve Apple's limitations by a campaign to get Flash removed from the internet.

What's your main usage purpose with the iPad, or why did you buy one?

I don't honestly see a disconnect in buying an Ipad and still being disappointed in no Flash support. I agree that potential buyers should do at least enough research to know that it isn't there however. The Ipad is a fantastic device without Flash support, no doubt about it. Do I still wish it had Flash support? Yes I do, but then again I knew ahead of time that wasn't going to happen. There is nothing wrong with thinking out loud how an already great device would be even better for those that wish to have the missing features.

This isn't something unique to the Ipad. When I bought my car, I knew it had a less than stellar air conditioner. It was still the best car for the money that I could afford, so that's what I bought. It doesn't keep me from wishing it had a better A/C unit when it hits 100F outside, and in a similar way I wish I could browse some websites that use Flash heavily. In neither case is it enough to keep me away from the product, and in the case of the Ipad I don't know that there is a serious competitor available anyhow.

Flash is as big an issue as some are making it out to be for them, otherwise they wouldn't be bringing it up. For those people I would say wait for a different product that meets their needs. As usual, the rest of the industry is playing catch-up. I guarantee there will be competing products entering the market that better meet the needs of certain segments of the buying public. For the rest of the people that are happy with the Ipad the Flash issue is something that is either not important at all, or something that they can at least live with.

Just a friendly reminder to keep it...um friendly.

Oh, and not having Flash annoys me about once a day - it's usually tech blogs and stuff and they should know better. Still I usually just shrug my shoulders and move on. I surely don't miss the Rick rolls, LOLCats and Punch the Monkey.