Connect with us

Software

Why Does Adobe’s FlashPlayer for Firefox Have to be Such a Chore To Install

Published

on

OK, in terms of rating PITA’s this is not really in the top 10 of annoyances, but let me tell you it drives me nuts every time I run into it.

When you get prompted to install Adobe’s Flash Player for Firefox 3.xx you have to click closed so many windows to get it to work, it is almost not worth the hassle. This is especially true on a small Netbook screen and I just find it annoying. You’d think by now both Adobe and Firefox would have figured something out that doesn’t require the manual install steps that you have to go through. Or am I missing something here?

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. GoodThings2Life

    02/02/2009 at 12:06 pm

    No, you’re exactly right… it should install itself as an extension and then prompt you to restart if necessary (which of course would automatically save your session so that you return to the same place).

  2. Jeff

    02/02/2009 at 12:44 pm

    You know, I was thinking the same thing last night, as I picked up a HP Mini and was setting it up while watching the game.

  3. Dave

    02/02/2009 at 12:45 pm

    that is one reason I use Google’s Chrome browser..

  4. GoodThings2Life

    02/02/2009 at 1:20 pm

    Well don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t switch browsers over this, since it’s really Adobe that isn’t playing by the rules here, but it is pretty annoying.

  5. bub

    02/02/2009 at 1:25 pm

    >> it’s really Adobe that isn’t playing by the rules here

    Gee, what else is new?

  6. Jose R. Ortiz

    02/02/2009 at 4:02 pm

    i have not seen it as a big issue since it’s a one time install and the updates occur in the background from that point forward. i just had to install the flash player on my u110 after doing a win7 install and it was quick and painless. download, launch .exe, close ff, done. did it in ~1 min. while in class =)

    i know what you mean by having it install as an ext, but it has not been a huge deal for me.

  7. Joe

    02/02/2009 at 4:34 pm

    What I hate more is when you try and install Adobe Reader, if you use the newest one, version 9, it also forces you to install AIR and Adobe.com, whatever that last one is.

  8. Clayton

    02/02/2009 at 5:18 pm

    I just did this a couple hours ago when I installed Firefox on my sister’s S10. It was a bit weird.

  9. Ray

    02/02/2009 at 7:13 pm

    Search Google and you’ll be surprised at all the reports about Flashplayer & Firefox (and IE for some) not playing videos on YouTube.
    There are many suggestions, but in some cases nothing works.

    Three very technical organizations (Adobe/Firefox/YouTube) that really couldn’t care less about a few ‘idiots’ who can’t install their simple software. All ducking and weaving to avoid taking responsibility.

    Shame on them all!!

    Ray.

  10. Peter

    02/02/2009 at 11:47 pm

    Yeah it gets especially annoying when you have many computers or are testing new computers on a constant basis.

    Then there’s Linux.. Flash and Firefox gave me nightmares for years with all the crashes I had to endure and force upon family, they never want to go back to Linux again.

  11. John Dowdell

    02/04/2009 at 12:17 pm

    Do you think you’re seeing a different experience on the “Netbook” you’re installing than you do on a laptop?

    (Is it, by chance after looking at your sig, a Microsoft tablet? If so, then can you compare it to a PC with Firefox, or another cross-browser renderer on that device? This would help us readers figure whether you’re seeing something different, how many “so many windows” there are, etc.)

    jd/adobe

  12. Kenneth

    02/04/2009 at 12:26 pm

    Wasn’t there a freeware alternative to Flash Player that flew by recently? I remember Foxit for PDFs but I can’t seem to find the Flash replacement now…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.