HTML5 vs. Adobe Flash : from the end user standpoint

[摘要] For NetApp products to be the best in the market, NetApp has to make the correct technology decisions to insure it leads in innovation. In this thesis, I focus on a product called NetApp Unified Manager, examining whether HTML5 satisfies its needs. I evaluate NetApp from a user;;s perspective using four criteria: data visualization and customization, platform, NetApp;;s special needs, and interoperability. From researching about these criteria, I evaluate the best decision for NetApp OnCommand;;s user experience, moving forward. I compare Adobe Flash based and HTML5 based data visualizations and reach several conclusions: their functionalities are comparable; HTML5 is completely capable of representing large amounts of data; HTML5 does not have all the features that Adobe Flash has on all browsers, but its disadvantages will decrease over time. Additionally, I assess NetApp;;s inclination toward mobile development and decide that running an application native to the browser is best because mobile application development is in the future. Accordingly, I recommend that NetApp migrate their applications to HTML5. I have made three main contributions in this thesis: I have framed a method for researching for and writing a recommendation. I have identified four criteria on which to assess NetApp;;s needs, emphasizing data visualizations. Finally, I have argued that, for NetApp, HTML5 is superior to Flash in the advantages it brings now.

[发布机构] Massachusetts Institute of Technology