Comments on: Life in the slow lane http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html Stopdesign is the creative outlet of Douglas Bowman. Tue, 04 May 2010 11:39:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: renish http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1158 renish Wed, 07 Apr 2004 19:08:21 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1158 every designer should take care about above point. really great points. every designer should take care about above point. really great points.

]]> By: Rob http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1157 Rob Wed, 31 Mar 2004 19:18:56 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1157 Dial-up sucks. Unfortunately, I won't have broadband in my area for a while. The reason is they want to get the dense population centers first. I suspect now that everyone in those areas that wants broadband access has it. Dial-up sucks. Unfortunately, I won’t have broadband in my area for a while. The reason is they want to get the dense population centers first. I suspect now that everyone in those areas that wants broadband access has it.

]]> By: Heath Weaver http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1156 Heath Weaver Wed, 31 Mar 2004 11:29:03 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1156 I posted similar comments on my blog and Jeffrey Veen's blog. I think it is really valuable for designers and other professionals to 'step in other's shoes' so to speak. This came to me when I downloaded a text reader on a trial basis from IBM and realized how committed a person with site disabilities must be to venture on the web. Total disaster for me. It certainly has had an impact on how I will design in the future and I wish everyone with a web page would give it a try (especially news and major content sites). I posted similar comments on my blog and Jeffrey Veen’s blog.

I think it is really valuable for designers and other professionals to ‘step in other’s shoes’ so to speak.

This came to me when I downloaded a text reader on a trial basis from IBM and realized how committed a person with site disabilities must be to venture on the web. Total disaster for me.

It certainly has had an impact on how I will design in the future and I wish everyone with a web page would give it a try (especially news and major content sites).

]]> By: Sage http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1155 Sage Wed, 31 Mar 2004 02:04:28 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1155 It's uncanny how incredibly true this post is. I've been a dial-up user for 5 years or so now, and I know we won't be getting broadband until at least another 2 years. It's not necessarily awful... using all of those tips mentioned above, it's tolerable, though downloading anything >500KB has to be pre-planned (I usually start a large download right before dinner or taking a shower). One great boon for dial-up users on the Apple side is that now Apple has built in the ability to re-connect downloads after stopping them manually or after a disconnection, so now I'll never lose a download again. :-) It’s uncanny how incredibly true this post is. I’ve been a dial-up user for 5 years or so now, and I know we won’t be getting broadband until at least another 2 years.

It’s not necessarily awful… using all of those tips mentioned above, it’s tolerable, though downloading anything >500KB has to be pre-planned (I usually start a large download right before dinner or taking a shower).

One great boon for dial-up users on the Apple side is that now Apple has built in the ability to re-connect downloads after stopping them manually or after a disconnection, so now I’ll never lose a download again. :-)

]]> By: Nick Finck http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1154 Nick Finck Tue, 30 Mar 2004 23:54:57 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1154 Poor Doug, you sound like you are in bandwidth hell. I think you forgot one tip: don't step on the phoneline, it causes the signal to slow down. ;) Poor Doug, you sound like you are in bandwidth hell. I think you forgot one tip: don’t step on the phoneline, it causes the signal to slow down. ;)

]]> By: Chris from Scottsdale http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1153 Chris from Scottsdale Tue, 30 Mar 2004 23:01:17 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1153 Hi everybody. For tabbed browsing using the IE engine on Windows I am using MyIE2 which is awesome! I would recommend it to anybody who wants to use IE yet wants tabbed browsing AND wants to be able to use the Google toolbar. Hi everybody. For tabbed browsing using the IE engine on Windows I am using MyIE2 which is awesome! I would recommend it to anybody who wants to use IE yet wants tabbed browsing AND wants to be able to use the Google toolbar.

]]> By: Scott Johnson http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1152 Scott Johnson Tue, 30 Mar 2004 23:00:27 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1152 I, too, have had high-speed connections for quite some time. And tabbed-browsing has just made these connections seem even faster. I can't imagine ever going back to an IE-style tabless browser. On the rare occasion that I'm forced to use a dialup connection, I appreciate the tabs even more. But they're really nice for broadband, too. It's almost as if there's NO page load time. I, too, have had high-speed connections for quite some time. And tabbed-browsing has just made these connections seem even faster. I can’t imagine ever going back to an IE-style tabless browser. On the rare occasion that I’m forced to use a dialup connection, I appreciate the tabs even more. But they’re really nice for broadband, too. It’s almost as if there’s NO page load time.

]]> By: dickwood http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1151 dickwood Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:59:55 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1151 One good thing about SBC DSL is that you can renegotiate your contract every year. I have the Standard Plus package, which usually goes for $49.95. I pay $29.95. All you have to do is call before your contract expires and say you would like to retain their services but you do not want to pay more than you currently paying. I wish other companies worked the same way. One good thing about SBC DSL is that you can renegotiate your contract every year. I have the Standard Plus package, which usually goes for $49.95. I pay $29.95. All you have to do is call before your contract expires and say you would like to retain their services but you do not want to pay more than you currently paying.

I wish other companies worked the same way.

]]> By: KillAllDash9 http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1150 KillAllDash9 Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:59:19 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1150 I feel your pain--I really do. I've been using either ADSL or cable broadband for the last 4 years; the last year of which has been on a 3Mb/s connection. Now, due to some temporary financial trouble, we've had to drop our cable connection (broadband _and_ TV--ouch!) for a while and have gone back to a dialup connection. It was a sad day in geek-land when I realized that I can once again tell exactly what speed I'm going to connect at by the sound of the modem training up. On the other hand, I tend to use the computer a _lot_ less at home, now--preffering to save the majority of my surfing for the office where I still have a high-speed connection. I feel your pain–I really do. I’ve been using either ADSL or cable broadband for the last 4 years; the last year of which has been on a 3Mb/s connection. Now, due to some temporary financial trouble, we’ve had to drop our cable connection (broadband _and_ TV–ouch!) for a while and have gone back to a dialup connection. It was a sad day in geek-land when I realized that I can once again tell exactly what speed I’m going to connect at by the sound of the modem training up.

On the other hand, I tend to use the computer a _lot_ less at home, now–preffering to save the majority of my surfing for the office where I still have a high-speed connection.

]]> By: Lea de Groot http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1149 Lea de Groot Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:52 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1149 We were on dialup for over 5 years until several months ago when we moved, and, Yep, I have to agree with almost all those points - my main differential is that we got a second line dedicated to the dialup and just left it on all the time. No issues here of 'should I do this now or later?' Yes, we had to do a bit of ISP shopping to find one where the auto-redial was acceptable (or did we find one that was so incompetent that they didnt notice? Not sure :), but we were online 24x7 on dialup - heck we were serving websites over it (carefully designed for low bandwidth, mind you, but served, nonetheless :) We were on dialup for over 5 years until several months ago when we moved, and, Yep, I have to agree with almost all those points – my main differential is that we got a second line dedicated to the dialup and just left it on all the time. No issues here of ‘should I do this now or later?’
Yes, we had to do a bit of ISP shopping to find one where the auto-redial was acceptable (or did we find one that was so incompetent that they didnt notice? Not sure :), but we were online 24×7 on dialup – heck we were serving websites over it (carefully designed for low bandwidth, mind you, but served, nonetheless :)

]]> By: Aleksandar Vacia http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1148 Aleksandar Vacia Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:58:18 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1148 It can also show you that fewer links in the HEAD part of your page results in much lower content-show times. While you are on dial-up (and if you have time), create a mockup page for Stopdesign - one where all screen styles are inserted into one file and the other where you have your current situation (with additional imports in the screen.css). Start with empty browser cache, and measure times for 1st load and subsequent loads (with .css and .js already in cache). Then try it in normal browsing circumstances, when you are not loading only one web site, but have several streams sharing those (effective) 50k. It creates significant difference, one which I am painfully aware when surfing from home on 28.8k or 33.6k connection. It can also show you that fewer links in the HEAD part of your page results in much lower content-show times.

While you are on dial-up (and if you have time), create a mockup page for Stopdesign – one where all screen styles are inserted into one file and the other where you have your current situation (with additional imports in the screen.css).
Start with empty browser cache, and measure times for 1st load and subsequent loads (with .css and .js already in cache). Then try it in normal browsing circumstances, when you are not loading only one web site, but have several streams sharing those (effective) 50k.

It creates significant difference, one which I am painfully aware when surfing from home on 28.8k or 33.6k connection.

]]> By: Jeff Minard http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1147 Jeff Minard Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:57:19 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1147 Nakijo - There is no diff behind the "new tab"/"new window" - well, not as far as load times are concerend. Tab browsing just helps to keep the task bar cleaner. I have (right this second) 28 tabs open...I would die if I had 28 browser icons in my task bar. :-P Nakijo – There is no diff behind the “new tab”/”new window” – well, not as far as load times are concerend. Tab browsing just helps to keep the task bar cleaner. I have (right this second) 28 tabs open…I would die if I had 28 browser icons in my task bar. :-P

]]> By: William Wedler http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1146 William Wedler Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:56:49 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1146 I use dial-up at home and broadband at school. The differences are tremendous. I never even heard of half of the video clips and other features mentioned. Using explorer, I sometimes have so many browsers open at once that it is difficult to use other applications. I started using Mozilla, and the tabs are great (and it has better support for CSS). I could never use Netscape though. Too many bad memories. One more difference is that I use the back button much less when I'm using dial-up. Sorting through search results is tricky and if go to a site I don't want, closing the window is faster than using the back button. I use dial-up at home and broadband at school. The differences are tremendous. I never even heard of half of the video clips and other features mentioned.

Using explorer, I sometimes have so many browsers open at once that it is difficult to use other applications. I started using Mozilla, and the tabs are great (and it has better support for CSS). I could never use Netscape though. Too many bad memories.

One more difference is that I use the back button much less when I’m using dial-up. Sorting through search results is tricky and if go to a site I don’t want, closing the window is faster than using the back button.

]]> By: Nakijo http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1145 Nakijo Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:56:19 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1145 Thanks, Nils. I'll try it with the shortcuts. Your description of the use puzzles me though - that's exactly what I do now, so I don't see how having a tab rather then a new window saves me much. Just one of those things, I guess, all part of the 'Change Browser/Platform/OS' mythology Thanks, Nils. I’ll try it with the shortcuts. Your description of the use puzzles me though – that’s exactly what I do now, so I don’t see how having a tab rather then a new window saves me much. Just one of those things, I guess, all part of the ‘Change Browser/Platform/OS’ mythology

]]> By: Raena Armitage http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1144 Raena Armitage Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:55:41 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1144 'I was told they’d need to disconnect my current service, terminate the account, then create a new account in the new system.' Pig's arse they need to. I can't believe your phone companies can get away with this garbage... it's like 'locking' phones to networks. ‘I was told they’d need to disconnect my current service, terminate the account, then create a new account in the new system.’

Pig’s arse they need to. I can’t believe your phone companies can get away with this garbage… it’s like ‘locking’ phones to networks.

]]> By: Nils Devine http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1143 Nils Devine Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:55:06 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1143 The key commands you're looking for are Ctrl and Ctrl-Tab. Hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab, hold Ctrl and hit Tab to switch between tabs. The idea behind letting pages load in the background is that once you have one page loaded you never have to sit and wait until another page loads. While you are reading one page you Ctrl click a link to load another page in the background. Then you just go on reading the page you are on. By the time you're done reading the next page will have loaded. The slow connections use of tabbed browsing is on my list of <a href="http://www.divinentd.com/blogarchive/2004_01_30_divineblog_archive.html" rel="nofollow">positive reasons to switch</a>. It's easy enough to explain how evil and insecure IE is, but to really get quality converts we need to give people positive reasons to switch to an alternative browser. The key commands you’re looking for are Ctrl and Ctrl-Tab. Hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab, hold Ctrl and hit Tab to switch between tabs.

The idea behind letting pages load in the background is that once you have one page loaded you never have to sit and wait until another page loads. While you are reading one page you Ctrl click a link to load another page in the background. Then you just go on reading the page you are on. By the time you’re done reading the next page will have loaded.

The slow connections use of tabbed browsing is on my list of positive reasons to switch. It’s easy enough to explain how evil and insecure IE is, but to really get quality converts we need to give people positive reasons to switch to an alternative browser.

]]> By: Nakijo http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1142 Nakijo Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:54:34 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1142 Can you explain your tabbed browser comments to me? I've been using Firefox since it came out and I still don't get it... Surely the new pages take just as long to load if I load them in a new tab as in a new window? I don't use tabs at all. They just confuse my keyboard shortcut habits. Are there keyboard shortcuts for tabs that are equivalent to Shift and Alt-Tab? Firefox help and forums remain totally quiet on the subject... (Sorry, if this is too OT, but hey, I've never posted a comment on anyone's site before, I'm not exactly down with the etiquette) Can you explain your tabbed browser comments to me? I’ve been using Firefox since it came out and I still don’t get it…

Surely the new pages take just as long to load if I load them in a new tab as in a new window?

I don’t use tabs at all. They just confuse my keyboard shortcut habits. Are there keyboard shortcuts for tabs that are equivalent to Shift and Alt-Tab? Firefox help and forums remain totally quiet on the subject…

(Sorry, if this is too OT, but hey, I’ve never posted a comment on anyone’s site before, I’m not exactly down with the etiquette)

]]> By: Travis Cripps http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1141 Travis Cripps Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:54:01 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1141 I'm totally with you on all these points. I guess misery loves company. I live in a dead spot right now (in the middle of Silicon Valley!)and I've been extremely frustrated for the last few months of no high speed access. Now, I can't wait until my lease is up and I can move. I'll never move again before I have confirmation that some form of broadband access is available in the location under consideration. I hope SBC really comes through for you in the promised timeframe. Frustrated in Silicon Valley. I’m totally with you on all these points. I guess misery loves company.

I live in a dead spot right now (in the middle of Silicon Valley!)and I’ve been extremely frustrated for the last few months of no high speed access. Now, I can’t wait until my lease is up and I can move. I’ll never move again before I have confirmation that some form of broadband access is available in the location under consideration.

I hope SBC really comes through for you in the promised timeframe.

Frustrated in Silicon Valley.

]]> By: ak http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1140 ak Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:53:32 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1140 welcome to my world.. today i went to a friends house and downloaded over 200mb's in less than an hour. i'm still not convinced this isn't magic.. less than half of that would have taken me 39hrs. welcome to my world..
today i went to a friends house and downloaded over 200mb’s in less than an hour. i’m still not convinced this isn’t magic.. less than half of that would have taken me 39hrs.

]]> By: nathan http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/03/29/slow.html#comment-1139 nathan Tue, 30 Mar 2004 22:52:59 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=179#comment-1139 In what universe is it acceptable to have no service for two weeks, just so you have the priveledge of giving SBC more money? If cable broadband is available in your area, drop your landline and go the cellphone/cable modem route. In what universe is it acceptable to have no service for two weeks, just so you have the priveledge of giving SBC more money? If cable broadband is available in your area, drop your landline and go the cellphone/cable modem route.

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