Let me qualify the following opinions by saying that I am a professional web designer who daily uses Adobe and Microsoft software, am of course comfortable with XHTML and CSS, and am what is often called a "power user" in computers in general. I did work through the tutorials to familiarize myself with the program. However, I don't have prior Flash experience.

As a designer, I was disappointed to find that scripting is typically required to achieve professional results, especially with text effects. (This can be overcome by purchasing clunky addons which average around $50.) Theoretically, attractive text effects can be achieved without scripting, but the time it costs to animate words character by character is prohibitive.

This was a huge problem for me as I am not a programmer. Important: Truly benefiting from your investment requires learning ActionScript on top of learning the Macromedia Flash program itself.

This is not to say you can't do a significant amount of animation without scripting knowledge. In my limited experience though, the major strength of Flash 8 seems to lie in the **development of interactive web applications** that include animation, and NOT in animation-centered uses such as presentations. For animation-centered uses you would be better off to choose a more specific tool such as those listed below.

Other programs to consider before you buy Flash 8 would be:
- Toon Boom: all-in-one (and high end) tool of choice for animators
- SwishMax: budget-friendly Flash8 replacement with 230 built-in visual effects
- e frontier's MotionArtist: PowerPoint on steroids, presentation-oriented