Introduction
Hardware and software requirements
Macromedia Flash MX is running without problems on Windows 98 and higher versions. Also there is version for Macintosh available. We will work with Windows version through the course, but Mac Flash is practically the same. The major difference is in command shortcuts, so if you work on Macintosh platform you also may use this course. You will need about 85 Mb of free disk space to install the software.
Regarding Hardware requirements are quite moderate. It may be running at Pentium 200 processor with 64 MB Ram. However, better performance is recommended. If your files are small and relatively simple you will not see the difference, so for this course you can easily use a minimal configuration. But if you created for example the file which includes several fragments of stream music taken from large MP3 files, complicated tweening animations and numerous images imported your compile time may increase drastically and every time you need to test your work (and it happens very often) you will need to wait for a minute or more to compile the resulting file.
During this process you will install and configure Flash design environment and also install a separate product called Flash Player, which is used to execute compiled files. With installation you will receive an independent Player, which may run Flash movies on their own and also special plugins to Internet browsers currently available to your computer – to run movies which are embedded in HTML page.
So I would recommend 1GB processor with 128 Mb Ram for the professional development.
Screen resolution is important. Even if it’s quite possible to work with Flash at 800X600 resolution, 1024X768 is much more convenient. If you have a good 17 -inch monitor with 1600X1200 resolution you will enjoy working with Flash even more. The reason of it that the better resolution the more working space you have. Flash environment offers many panels with tools and with not detailed resolution screen is "congested"
You will need sound card with at least internal speaker to test sounds.
Also it will be very good if you have a Web hosting space on the Web server. In most cases Internet providers offer space on the server for subscribers. If it's so - find out what name of your url is going to be and how to upload files. Providers offer special programs for file uploading or give directions how to upload files using FTP protocol.
If you don't have such opportunity - find a free Web hosting on Internet - usually those are restricted in size and add advertisment banners to your site. It's not a problem since you may need it only for testing purpose.