Site is inaccessible for non-Flash users

This is feedback about the frontpage of the site itself rather than the forum - am I in the right place for that?

My workplace, like many large corporations and government agencies, is a bit behind the times as far as browsers go. We are stuck using IE6 and cannot upgrade our Flash players or any other optional extras. I tried to get onto the SFG site today and I could not read the front page. There is no non-Flash alternative, which is a huge problem for anybody running an old browser (or the new Apple iPad, I believe).

How many potential readers/gardeners are trying to get to this site and being locked out, I wonder? It's not hard to offer a HTML alternative to Flash sites, and frankly I can see no reason for the front page of this site being Flash-driven in any case. Hope that somebody can rectify this before too many more people give up and go elsewhere!

Thanks for your post, Daisy.
I will alert the "powers that be" to you input. In the meantime, I hope you will stay with the Forums and let us know how your garden is doing.

Welcome!

Thanks Claire! Luckily for me, I have more modern browsers at home and can read the site in the evenings, or if I get a direct link to a forum posting. The front page is the problem. If I hadn't been here before I would have given up in disgust this morning, thinking that the whole site was broken.

Daisy - I can't see probably 90% of the pictures here at work. I can at home; my problem is that by the time I get to my home computer, I don't remember whose posts I wanted to go back & view. Amazingly I don't have trouble with the website, but I can't view any of the videos. Ah well - at least the site isn't blocked here!

n.

Alan is swamped right now. Here's what I can pass along until he has some time. He truly values constructive feedback, so don't hesitate to speak up.

Last week, Claire and I offered some suggestions to Alan along the same vein. I asked if a shadow, non-flash, web site was a possibility. At this point, the sfg web site is on a flash dedicated space. He is in the process of acquiring some traditional HTML space. Beyond that, I don't know how he plans to use it.

You bring up an interesting conundrum. The traffic stats of the web site look very promising. BUT, as you suggest, how many viewers are being shut out at the front door, or give up waiting for the download, or can't even get on the site to complain?! Those numbers are elusive at best, unknown at worst.

We all refer folks to Mel's book. Yet even though Alan has added some great reference information to the new site, no one is referring to it. I find that odd.

We had a good laugh at the difference in perspective that the 20+ year age gap between us creates. But I still think 'target audience' is still a factor worth considering.

Thanks again for your input,
Steve

It's about time Adobe got on the ball. If they get the CSS for apple's OSx then it will quickly ported over to Linux also! I love watching the upgrades fly across the net

Huh, I think my google english translator is broken. I don't have a clue what Travis just said!

The boss has spoken, and I can close this thread now.