What is Microsoft Silverlight and why do I need it?

Anonymous
2010-06-30T03:58:53+00:00

Can someone explain the benefits of MS Silverlight (both Pros and Cons)? Sorry to ask and I might be able to figure it out if I had time to open it up and see exactly each feature does, but just from opening the program up for the first time; I'm not sure that I need it or what it is for exactly? Thanks in advance for any insight someone can give me.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-06-30T15:18:04+00:00

On Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:58:53 +0000, xy_jeff wrote:

Can someone explain the benefits of MS Silverlight (both Pros and Cons)? Sorry to ask and I might be able to figure it out if I had time to open it up and see exactly each feature does, but just from opening the program up for the first time; I'm not sure that I need it or what it is for exactly? Thanks in advance for any insight someone can give me.

You need it if you want to go to web pages that use it. If you don't,

you don't need it.

As far as I'm concerned, you should have it, since it gives you the

ability to go to web pages you might want.

Ken Blake

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-06-30T04:08:04+00:00

Hi,

Check this site :

Microsoft SilverLight - on left - Learn Why SilverLight is right for you.

http://www.silverlight.net/

Also there are tutorials there and even its own Community and Forums.

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - MS MVP - Windows Desktop Experience : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

119 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2013-05-20T04:17:33+00:00

    Causes more harm than benefits! Always caused my computer to freeze when I clicked on certain links, such as the "reply" button or "show content" button. I removed the software, and my computer works much better now. MS Silverlight must be full of bugs, just like any other MS software!!! 

    I've removed Silverlight from my computer 3 times now - and turned off automated updates to prevent my computer from automatically redownloading it - and yet once a week, Microsoft OVERRIDES my settings, saying it has to download a critical update - the critical update is always to reinstall Silverlight - WITHOUT MY PERMISSION - without asking me before doing so - and doing it in the background while I am working, causing the computer to suddenly crash, restart and make me sit and wait 4 or 5 hours while it "installs update # 1 of 30". When it finally restarts, it takes more than 10 minutes to reboot EACH  time and it crashed exactly every 20 minutes, requiring another 10 minute wait while it reboots. The only way to fix this 20min crash is to uninstall Silverlight, and than, for the next 7 days my computer runs fine, until the weekly critical update overrides my Windows settings to "Never check for updates" and reinstalls Silverlight again without my permission.

    I wish there was a way to get it off my computer once and for all, and stop Microsoft from overriding my settings and installing updates without my approval. :(

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-09-14T14:02:29+00:00

    I had the same question about Silverlight, I wasn't sure what it was. After spending some time on the internet, I found that Silverlight is like a Microsoft version of Adobe Flash. Check out the Wikipedia link if you need a detailed explanation:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silverlight

    Some web pages do use it, however, its usage is not as widespread as Adobe Flash.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-04T06:22:03+00:00

    DUH..? might need  it? might not need it? need what? for what? you did not explain STILL what is silverlight that websites may use please what/why diff?. of web pages can we use/see web pages w/out SL? what are me missing/not missing, is it really a must ?  u opened up a lot more questions for this program confusing! ... web pages you might want..?what do u mean ? can we see them? can we download etc w/without silverlight. now i am waiting to hear that computer may explode w/ out SL..kidding

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments