Initial strategy for different users...

[toddlerner]

Hello,

I'm creating a website that will have externally streamed MP3 songs. I'll be making 2 versions of the website: one for broadband and one for dialup users.

What's the best strategy for sending users each to their own site version?

-- Shall I do a splashpage and ask the users to choose their connection speed, or is it better to detect for broadband behind the scenes?

-- Do I have Flash detect for Flash MX? If the user has an older version, how do they get sent for the upgraded reader?

-- If the user doesn't have Flash, do I somehow offer them a choice between downloading the reader or viewing a simpler non-flash site version? Does this mean it's ideal to have 4 versions of the site: Flash and Non-Flash in both broadband and dial-up friendly versions?

The site I am working on is very very important to me and I want to spare no effort in making it as perfect as I can.

But my brain is swimming with options and I'm having trouble sorting out a strategy.

Any advice from experienced members would be really appreciated.

Thanks,
Todd Lerner

[pellepiano]

Flash can detect version of the Flash player with getVersion()

It returns......

WIN 5,0,17,0

[gSOLO_01]

Detect version: html & flash

http://www.macromedia.com/software/f...detection_kit/

I say let the user pick their speed...

[pellepiano]

Oh, half may post disapeared.....

/// Flash Detection
A simple solution is to have a sniffer page. A html page with a Flash MX swf in it that just redirects you to the real site. If the user dont have Flash or Flash MX the swf wont show and no redirection will be made from the Flash file.

Then you have a redirect in the html document also, but it redirects after 4 seconds ( to a html page with links to macromedoia).

In short. If the swf has not redirected you in 4 seconds the html will.

This is what you put in the HEAD tag of the html.

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="4;URL=noflash.html"> 

[toddlerner]

Thank You pellepiano for the execution idea. I'll be giving thought on how to integrate your ideas into my strategy.

And Thank You gSOLO for the input and for the detection kit url -- the kit seems invaluable! I'll be studying it and putting it to use I'm sure.

With LOTS of appreciation,
Todd Lerner