User reaction to Shockwave 7.0.2 strongly negative

Regarding the reports of problems with Shockwave 7.0.2 (first mentioned here last time), follow-up emails from readers continue to be strongly and almost unanimously negative. Here are some highlights:

I can confirm that I have encountered many of the problems detailed by others. In fact, I would say that Shockwave 7.0.2 is one of the most problematic pieces of software I have ever installed in my 13 years of using Macs. [Joe DelPopolo]

I too hate the new Shockwave and have rapidly trashed it and gone back to previous version. [Ken Hoyle]

It is true that if you try to delete the Shockwave Remote application that any Shockwave content will crash your browser. [Michael McCoy]

I removed the Shockwave Remote stuff. Both Shockwave and Flash test successfully at Macromedia's test page. I only get a crash when trying to view special stuff that wants to bring up the Shockwave Remote. [Elly Gross]

After installing Shockwave 7.0.2 my 250 MHz G3 PowerBook began losing available RAM. I didn't recognize it at first, but before long my 96MB was insufficient to run apps simultaneously that I'd had no problem with before. Several crashes later, I've pulled out everything Shockwave and replaced it with the earlier, less invasive version and, so far at least, my RAM is holding steady. [Alan Silverman]

I just thought I would let you know that the Shockwave installer problems are not exclusive to the Mac OS. I have three computers in my office that I tried (had) to upgrade to the new plug in - two MacOS 8.6 machines and one Windows 98 machine. All three had major problems installing the update. So far I've only been able to get the new Shockwave plug-in to install properly on one of the machines (a G3/450) -- and that was after a dozen or so attempts. [Mike Minard]

Uninstall URL A thread on the MacFixIt Forums has more user feedback. It also notes a Macromedia web page that provides instructions on how to uninstall Shockwave 7 (dated back to February). Update: Pete Curtner adds: "The page neglects to mention removing the Shockwave Control Strip module."

Based on all of these reports (we have not yet personally tried the update), we would recommend against installing Shockwave 7.0.2. Wait for the next version.