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What is Silverlight, and do I need it?

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Summary: Silverlight is Microsoft's new collection of software to support rich web-based applications. You may not need it yet, but eventually you might.

I just did a check for fixes & updates using Windows Updates. The result of the check was a software update for which I do not know if I should download and install it or not. As an "end user" home computer, I don't know if I need "Silverlight v1.0". I was wondering if you could shed some light on this Silverlight and, generally speaking, whether or not a home user would need or use Silverlight.

Do you need it? Probably not yet. But I'm guessing that someday you will want it.

And even if you don't, I'm guessing not having it will, eventually, be annoying enough that you'll give in and install it anyway.

This is a frustratingly classic case of "Resistance is Futile".

Here's the Microsoft line on Silverlight:

Microsoft Silverlight delivers a new generation of high-quality audio and video, engaging media experiences, and interactive applications for the Web.

In a way, Silverlight is much like Adobe's Flash in that it enables a bunch of functionality that "plain old HTML" simply doesn't support such as animation, video, multimedia and more. In fact, Silverlight is considered in many ways a Flash competitor.

So, do you need it?

Probably not yet. The number of web sites that are using it is actually small. It's unlikely that you'll actually see any difference as you browse the web without Silverlight for some time, with a few exceptions.

".. you can keep avoiding it, if you like. Chances are that for now you won't really notice any issues ..."

Microsoft is of course pushing everyone to install Silverlight support on their machines so that website authors will be encouraged to use the new technology. You're seeing it in Windows Update. In fact, if you simply visit the Microsoft home page, you'll likely be prompted right there to install it as well, since Microsoft is naturally also using the technology itself. At this point, it's not a requirement, but it wouldn't surprise me if someday certain key features required Silverlight.

My guess is that it's simply going to become annoying.

You may run into a site where you actually want to install it to get the site's functionality, and that's fine. It's actually a fairly small download and install.

What I expect, though, is to be nagged into submission by Windows Update, and by visiting sites that don't require it, but promise some kind "enhanced experience" if you have do it.

Like microsoft.com.

Right now there are bumps in the road. I'm finding that if you're running Internet Explorer all seems to be well. Silverlight installs and runs just fine. However, if you are visiting Microsoft.com with FireFox 3, the site doesn't believe that Silverlight is installed and keeps offering it, even though Silverlight is most definitely installed.

That's a little frustrating, but sadly not terribly surprising.

So my bottom line: you can keep avoiding it, if you like. Chances are that for now you won't really notice any issues other than the occasional reminder that you haven't installed it.

Me? I gave in and installed it, just to remove one more annoyance.

It does at times seem that resistance is futile.

Related:

Article 12554 | Posted July 14, 2008

Recent Comments
0 Comments

So we can define "Silverlight" as a programming model for developing and distributing rich Internet applications (RIA) that use graphics, animations or video within the .NET framework.

I think this technology will used much more in the future , but until this time we aren't obliged to use the silverlight tool.

important article leo , thanks ...
http://www.fosdir.com

Posted by: peter at July 14, 2008 12:01 PM

Typical Microsoft, wanting to control everything, can't possibly use something that was created by someone else (ODF/OOXML, Flash/Silverlight). This company disgusts me.

Posted by: Chris at July 15, 2008 12:18 AM

A lot of Microsoft's own sites will NOT work unless you install Silverlight.

Posted by: Carl R. Goodwin at July 15, 2008 9:40 AM

So Leo, you gave in and installed Silverlight. But you've said previously that you use Firefox. A pointless installation??
By the way, there are other M'soft updates, even so-called 'critical' updates, that are completely unnecessary. But it's impossible to know this until they've been installed - and cannot be uninstalled.

Posted by: Des Buckley at July 15, 2008 3:36 PM

I tend to agree with Des on this Leo....My son swears by Microsoft (I don't) and never will I hate authority
I too use Firefox whenever I can.
What I did find disconcerting was the statement by Des that a lot of updates are unnecessary.
Worse still they cannot be uninstalled
Mick Rogers

Posted by: Mick Rogers at July 15, 2008 9:19 PM

You don't HAVE to accept the updates. Under Control Panel, go to Security Center, then Windows Updates. One of your choices is "Notify me but don't automatically download and install them." When a window pops up in your system tray saying there are updates available you can click on that box and review what updates are there. Deselect the ones you don't want. This morning it wanted to download the Windows XP SP3 to the tune of 316MB. I deselected because I've already downloaded and installed this myself. I also don't let it download anything to do with Outlook or Outlook Express because I don't have either program on my computer. Hope this helps

Posted by: T. at July 16, 2008 10:36 AM

thank you so much for the article.the name sounded inspirational and i wanted to download and install without knowing what it was.from your article i definitely want to wait and watch.i dont know why everybody is blaiming microsoft for one thing or the other .please remember that the company began from strach .

Posted by: jyothish kumar at July 17, 2008 10:13 AM

don't need it .i'm going to linux as second os.
there's even one that works a cd.

Posted by: richard myers at July 17, 2008 12:53 PM

Actually the vast majority of Linux distributions can run from a cd. It's called Live-CD.
BTW i installed Silverlight on my test pc and it broke my Opera browser when i tried to visit the Microsoft Downloads site. It was a pain to remove so i say: Stay away from it, it's not worth it now.

Posted by: Gigi Duru at July 18, 2008 9:29 AM

Adobe's Flash is annoying with things moving all around the place, many in ads. I use FlashSwitch from FlashSwitch.com to stop Flash junk. It allows turning on Flash by clicking on the icon in the tool tray when you need to use Flash for something.
Is there a similar program to turn off Silverlight? If not, I hope someone creates one fast.

Posted by: Ken Crook at July 19, 2008 9:19 PM

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