Optimization of files

[tfoster]

Just chiming in with my two cents-
I too have heard that 50kb guideline for web pages, but I've been hearing it for several years now. I'm starting to wonder if it's time to rethink that limit and other used-to-be-givens about designing web sites. With the increasing use of DSL, modems, and the increasing performance of today's entry level systems, I'm thinking you could start upping the minimal standards.
A lot of that will have to do with the purpose of the site. If it's a B2B site then I certainly think you have a lot more leeway. If it's a consumer site then you'd probably want to be more concerned, especially if the audience would not typically be on the cutting edge of technology (e.g., an older audience, casual computer users, etc.)
I still keep to the minimums as a matter of habit (760 x 420 live areas, etc.), but I'm willing to push the envelope occassionally (especially on business oriented sites).
Of course, there's also the whole counterargument of preparing sites so that they can be interpreted by smaller, newer forms of technology (cell phones, etc.)-sigh. (not anxious to start a CSS thread here )
It IS a good question (the age old question!!), which unfortunately gets harder and harder to answer!
I'm going to go design a brochure now...(ah, the good ol' days)

[Joy Foraker]

tfoster - Thanks for chimming in. Opinions from members are always welcome AUK

Some webdesigners are designing sites for countries outside USA that only have modems and the service quality is not consistant. I have friends in Iran and Syria ---DSL is not available at all. And the pipe line into those countries is small, I think Iran is 128kbs. Viewers just don't want to wait the long load times and risk getting disconnected.

Site weight is a good thing to have in mind when you are designing for any of those countries.

--Joy

[tfoster]

Understood-and certainly there are instances closer to home where you'd need to be mindful of page weight. For instance, I do a site for a non-profit company that provides computer and office education for people with disabilities-often from poor neighborhoods. So a portion of the web site audience is the students and potential students (and their families). And a good number of them are probably on dial up so we are very mindful to design the site accordingly.
On the other hand, I also do a site for a software developer that sells to Fortune 500 companies (and the techies that work there), so we are able to take advantage of Flash elements, larger page loads, etc., since we know that the customers have high speed access and all the bells and whistles.
In the end it's all about understanding your audience-no different than the world of print in that regard! So it's hard to make blanket statements (not saying you were, just that it's easy for a book or a lecturer to distill a complex subject down to one or two little nuggets!), it's easy to sometimes lose site of that.

[Joy Foraker]

t foster