Do I really Need Macromedia Flash Plug-in and if Not, How Can I Stop Flash Popup

[Harry]

Last week I did a format and fresh install of Windows 2000 pro and IE.5.5. As usual, when online after a new install, I constantly get the Macromedia Flash pop up message asking to install their plug-in. Eventually I get so fed up with it always popping up that I end up installing it but I have a bad feeling about using flash with a 56K modem and I really don't want it and I really don't think I need it. I have more important things to do than wait for large flash animations to download. And I have this feeling like that plug-in slows down my system. So do I really need this plug-in and is there some way to stop the Macromedia Flash popup prompt to install it.

[Heon2574]

http://www.jtedley.com/jtflashmanager/index.php

[pam123]

Get a pop-up killer and resign yourself to the fact that you'll miss some special effects.
Basically it's eye candy, nice if you can afford it.

[glc]

Bite the bullet and install it - it's harmless and more and more sites are being written in Flash. Considerate site designers give you a choice on the home page whether to use it or not.

[scracker]

I think you can try Avant Browser to prevent the annoyed pop ups from emerging.

[AerynSedai]

i use two instantiations of mozilla.
one with flash, one without.
there is nothing quite like flash, with the ability to create the most useful and beautiful sites as well as the most persistent and annoying adverts.
not sure if you can do such a thing with ie.

AS

[aym]

I don't have Flash installed, I'm on 56k and Flash slows down things, and it's usually just annoying ads and such stuff, if there is a Flash movie that I really need, I download it and open it in Flash Player.