It would also have been nice if this wasn't limited to the US only.

The reality though is that there are still people who have trouble with SL but not with Flash. What about mobile devices? I know that you can view flash to a certain degree with WM, but you definitely can't with SL. You also have Linux which does have SL support for it, it's not as established as Flash.

I think this will help MS more than exclusivity would because each Olympics is a unique event and if people can't see video they want because of (a perception of) Silverlight issues, it makes Microsoft look really bad.

Look at the Mojave Experiment. That proved that where MS is concerned, people will let rumor and hearsay affect their opinion, largely because it's MS. All you have to do is track Silverlight on Twitter and you can see how much unjustified badmouthing is spreading.

Lastly, SL needs to be a CHOICE not a mandate. That choice is there, but NBC gives very compelling reasons for that choice. Forcing someone to install a new plugin is a bad idea. The simple fact is that Flash isn't new, SL is. Heck, if Flash doesn't work, how many non-technical people would ever blame Adobe? But if the NBC Olympics video can't be served to someone by SL (for whatever reason) do you think they'll blame NBC or MS?

Reality: Flash video doeesn't work, they blame NBC. SL video doesn't work, they blame MS.

Jens: this is due to licensing broadcast rights. NBC only owns the rights to broadcast in the US :-(

Christopher,

I agree with some of your points, but the idea that SL should be a choice not a mandate is interesting when I am prompted for Flash on lots of sites, even just to view ads...the prompt for a better experience is part of the web. Grab FlashBlock for FF (and maybe there will be a SLBlock) if you really think this is onerous.

A couple of things,

1. I originally poo pooed those who said distribution of the plugin was an issue. I admit, it's a HUGE issue, and has restricted us to intranet only applications. This revelation is somewhat disturbing.

2. I'm STILL disappointed that MS is seeding the world with the Beta 2 product, when it's known that there will be breaking changes in the RTM(possibly major breaks).

Couple all that with the fact that there is no clear plan of how this product will be released, and no plan how all of this will affect customers with the changes, and we have a mess of a roll out plan.

We are kept in the dark and the stuff we're being fed doesn't smell too good.

uh, no, it would NOT be nice to have *required* users to download Silverlight...

Since when did following the Rhapsody customer relationship management model become a virtue?????? Copying the deployment model of a company with an enormous base of boycotters is probably not a good idea.

Seriously, I fiercely disagree.

Overall, I like what Microsoft and NBC did.

what happens with my mediaplayer when I install silverlight?

Rene,

Silverlight has no affect on any MediaPlayer you have running on your system. Its completely separate. Unlike earlier MediaPlayer plugins, Silverlight is completely self contained and doesn't even require MediaPlayer to be installed.

John,

Point taken...nice that it works without but you can get a better experience with Silverlight (the four way video experience is good), but of course the lack of full-screen support is pretty disappointing.

Doesn't work for me.
Firefox users don't get the option to view without Silverlight. And Silverlight is not available as a plug-in for Firefox 3.1.

IE 7 does not play the video without Silverlight, either. Not on my system. Despite the claim that it does. Click on 'proceed without', and get only a few flashes of an Olympic logo. Then black.

have latest version of Firefox 2, and got prompted to download Silverlight to view Olympics. I am really pissed. It LOOKS like this experience would be terrific, but all I get is the loading circle going around and around. Why the hell would NBC risk everything for their video broadcast on a buggy program. This is a big investment for them, and can see NBC offers spectacular offerings. Cept nothing for ME. Thanks for taking away the Olympics for me, Microsoft. Hope a few heads roll at NBC. This sucks.

Might try downloading Firefox three, but seems it doesn't work well with that either. I dare not even open Explorer...which is a pandora's box of viruses, spyware, etc.

To M$... lame attempt but smart..

I am sure still a big #, but it would be nice to have required it...oh well.

why? so only new macs and windows can use the site? I'd say their pretty narrow minded to use a product which doesn't run on 'nix machines. Between that and the tight restrictions on who can watch what countries broadcast (Of the same event!!) this years olympics broadcast online is certainly unprecedented.

At least flash runs universally.

I am sure still a big #, but it would be nice to have required it...oh well.

why? so only new macs and windows can use the site? I'd say their pretty narrow minded to use a product which doesn't run on 'nix machines. Between that and the tight restrictions on who can watch what countries broadcast (Of the same event!!) this years olympics broadcast online is certainly unprecedented.

At least flash runs universally.

This article is misleading as of now. You should update it. No one can view the videos without being required to install Silverlight and that is same old sleazy MS tactics ?

It is no longer possible to proceed without the plugin- which requires an administrator's code to be installed on an (Intel-only) Mac...

This sucks. More M$ BS.

I will add an Update to it...but the reality is that requiring Silverlight is not sleazy to me. Have you tried to view YouTube videos without Flash? (or tried to use 1/2 the web without Flash?) They have partnered to do the video so you need the plugin. If this were flash instead of Silverlight, no one would call it sleazy.

Ok, this is sorta sucky, but IE7 allows me to "continue without the silverlight plugin.

Video plays through MSN video instead.\
Gee, you'd think Microsoft and NBC were in bed together, trying to screw up the olympics for everyone "else" on purpose or something!
at least already-broadcast dressage events play back ok.

I'm pretty darn sure, i could get it on mozilla too, if i could only get the "watch without the plugin" to pop up.

Oh, wait.. I CAN :-)
About:config

change general.useragent.extra.firefox
From "Firefox/3.0.1" to "Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1)"


Voila, insant ability to bypass silverlight.
Shame it took me MOST OF THE OLYMPICS to figure it out. at least I'll be able to see the highlights in the peace and safety of Firefox.

Well, shiznits

Seems I still need WMP11 plug-in for mozilla!
ARGH!
Microsoft $#@&# %)(*#& &@11$

ahh well, guess I'll just have set up a virtual windows PC, and let silverlight shine on it(safely tucked away in it's own memory aea, where it can be terminated and deleted from my linux desktop without a problem)