Performance of Flash Player 9...

Question

Here is my situation: I am writing an applet that requires
involved mathematical opperations on an array of numbers
(potentially reaching dimensions of 1000x1000). The calculations
are not complex, but they must be itterated on each individual node
of the array. The applet must also graphically represent this
array. I am currently using Flash 8 Pro, and Flash Player 8. Aside
from being a total pain to work with, Flash Pro seems to be
buckling under the demand of my applet.
I understand that Adobe has made Flex the platform of choice
for developing Flash apps, and I have noted it is much easier to
work with, and has much more built in functionality in its' new
components. But before I ask my boss for $500 for it, I wanted to
know if anyone knows if there will be performance improvements. Any
info is helpful; if not, I may have to start over using
Java.

Answer 1

I have been playing with Flex for a couple days now, and I am
impressed not only with the new functionality of ActionScript 3.0,
but also with the great ease with which applets can now be
developed, it is much easier for those of us who are used to using
tools such as Xcode or Visual Studio to make applications. Also,
there seems to be a definate improvement on the performance of my
algorithms, and I'm sure that these can be optimized more in the
new environment. ActionScript 3.0 already provides much of the
functionallity that I would have otherwise had to implement (and
maintain) myself.
Also, when I said that Flex is the platform of choice, what I
meat was it seems that Adobe is trying to separate the development
side of Flash's capabilities from the more artsy side; that is to
say, they are making an application that specifically adresses the
needs of developers instead of trying to make one huge application
that doesn't really suit the needs of either type of Flash author.
Flash Pro is a horrible environment to try to make applications
with. With the Flex environment I feel much more comfortable in
passing on my projects to whomever inherits their maintenance,
knowing that they will not have to struggle to learn and coax Flash
Pro into doing things that app developers take for granted on other
platforms.
...of course, Adobe could decide to completely restructure
everything again...
Anyway, thanks for your help,