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Gizmos and web design
If you want to add graphics, animations, pictures etc think for a moment what do they add to the site? If you can't think of a good reason, don't put them in. If you still deem it necessary then keep it simple and keep it small. Bear in mind that some surfers have slow machines and/or connections and/or low resolution monitors and/or different browsers, they may not see what you intend, but don't upset them by using gizmos that take so long to download. No-one will wait more than a few seconds.
Flash
Flash, it is said, loads much quicker than any other image, which is probably true. However a Flash movie requires longer load times because they contain more data than a normal.
There is a small Flash Intro movie for this site. Ask yourself how long it takes to load, would you want to watch it every time you visit this site and does it add to your overall view of this site. Follow this link to load the movie.
We should also point out that there are accessibility issues and search engine problems with Flash. In their place they are fine, but, in our opinion, should be used with care.