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    Do I need Silverlight?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by fantomasz, Jun 26, 2011.

  1. fantomasz

    fantomasz Notebook Deity

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    what this is and do I need it ? can I remove it ?
     
    fantomasz, Jun 26, 2011
    #1
  2. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    No it is not necessary to have it. Its just a browser plug-in similar to Flash.

    Ive only come across a few webpages that use Silverlight. Not worth keeping in my opinion.
     
    flipfire, Jun 26, 2011
    #2
  3. King of Interns

    King of Interns Simply a laptop enthusiast

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    Yup useless software. I never download it.
     
    King of Interns, Jun 26, 2011
    #3
  4. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Not totally useless depending on where you live. NBC's Sunday Night Football via NFL.com would broadcast Live games and required Silverlight. :)
     
    Rodster, Jun 26, 2011
    #4
  5. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    So does NetFlix.
     
    olyteddy, Jun 26, 2011
    #5
  6. VoiceInTheWilderness

    VoiceInTheWilderness Notebook Consultant

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    Yeah, Netflix (unfortunately) uses it for displaying streamed content. It seems to work well, but I like my machine minimal with respect to software. Silverlight seems like something extraneous for the most part.
     
    VoiceInTheWilderness, Jun 27, 2011
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  7. JunkStory

    JunkStory Notebook Consultant

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    Silverlight is Microsoft's web plug-in, and it's becoming more popular, with many big name companies starting to support it. Several Microsoft websites run it exclusively, and even the entire Windows Phone 7 OS is running Silverlight. I believe that it will become the future, so I would leave it installed on your machine.

    Even if you uninstall it now, don't worry - I think it will become an integral part of the next Windows OS (Windows 8), so you won't have a choice :) Also EVERY SINGLE application that I have used running Silverlight performs superior to Flash. Check this out:

    Photosynth - Capture your world in 3D.
     
    JunkStory, Jun 28, 2011
    #7
  8. ExMM

    ExMM Notebook Evangelist

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    There are lots of Italian websites using silverlight, I installed it just because I browse them, otherwise I won't need it...
     
    ExMM, Jun 28, 2011
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  9. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    A rising number of web pages and sites @ microsoft.com are using silverlight these days too.
     
    newsposter, Jun 28, 2011
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  10. Matt is Pro

    Matt is Pro I'm a PC, so?

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    If you have Flash installed, why not Silverlight?

    It does no harm having it installed, and it only takes up like 6 MB. Or something like that.
     
    Matt is Pro, Jun 28, 2011
    #10
  11. JunkStory

    JunkStory Notebook Consultant

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    +1

    Unless you plan to only browse HTML websites, you need Silverlight. Period.
     
    JunkStory, Jun 28, 2011
    #11
  12. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    Most websites will still have an HTML alternative.

    I didnt bother installing plug-ins like Flash, Silverlight or Java on some of my machines to reduce security holes and less update nag prompts.
     
    flipfire, Jun 28, 2011
    #12
  13. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    olyteddy, Jun 28, 2011
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  14. redrazor11

    redrazor11 Formerly waterwizard11

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    MSN(BC) videos are almost exclusively silver light.
     
    redrazor11, Jul 1, 2011
    #14
  15. booboo12

    booboo12 Notebook Prophet

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    Yes and it's annoying. I will say that the Netflix Silverlight implementation has been very good for me...pretty clear and non stuttery
     
    booboo12, Jul 4, 2011
    #15
  16. LIVEFRMNYC

    LIVEFRMNYC Blah Blah Blah!!!

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    LIVEFRMNYC, Jul 4, 2011
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  17. Cassandra022

    Cassandra022 Notebook Consultant

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    It's a must for me, since I stream netflix a LOT. It's never caused me any problems to have it installed, can't complain about it at all. I guess if you don't need it, no reason to install, but if its already there...i'd keep it. you might find something you need it for later and have to go through hassle of reinstall? its hardly a resource hog...
     
    Cassandra022, Jul 4, 2011
    #17
  18. ElBlufer

    ElBlufer Notebook/NBR Addict

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    Yeah, silverlight is used a lot. A lot of these companies are going to have to move away from silverlight soon, or silverlight is going to have to adapt. Currently it does not work on 64-bit browsers, which eventually are either going to have to be supported or the plug-in will die off.
     
    ElBlufer, Jul 4, 2011
    #18
  19. Generic User #2

    Generic User #2 Notebook Deity

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    how on earth did you use the internet without flash before youtube switched to html5(which is still flaky if you're not on chrome)?
     
    Generic User #2, Jul 4, 2011
    #19