Adobe must make the Flash Player download available as a stand [B]alone[/B]
item. Especially when the default option to download the Yahoo! toolbar is
[i]checked[/i]. The point is that access to Flash content should be as easy
and as smooth an experience as possible. I want one thing when I am asked to
download the Flash Player, the Flash Player. Having the download presented to
a user this way cheapens Adobe. Commercial interests should be kept out of
this page. Adobe should know better.

I encountered another disturbing "Adobe Player" download experience the other
day. I was on a site that required I download the latest Shockwave player.
After the download was finished I got a pop-up window advertising some game
site that uses the Shockwave player. I am very disappointed.

I don't remember Macromedia ever doing this, though perhaps I am wrong. Is
this an Adobe idea from some people who have no idea what good web experience
is trying to push up quarterly stock prices or generate income from some very
misplaced value added scenarios? As a professional web designer/developer this
is exactly the kind of encounter that makes me think just a bit less about
creating a Flash/Shockwave based web solution.

When a company like Adobe creates a product (a plug-in, regardless of
penetration rates) that is required to view certain sites or to use certain
applications you would think that they would make its availability a smooth,
quick and effortless experience. Why would they make you have to think about
whether you want the Yahoo toolbar or want to see some game sites using the
Shockwave player? This is perceived as what it is, advertising, and diminishes
the Adobe brand.

When I create a situation where one of my site users is prompted to download
the Flash Player, it is a delicate transaction, especially in today's web
climate. Adobe needs to create a Flash Player download page that creates
trust, necessity and stability. Their current solution is bad business.