Why Optimize?

Net Mechanic has an article "Every Byte Counts" covering some basic reasons to keep downloads fast. They provide some nice tools for optimization, including GifBot (which I use with some frequency).

They argue, in short, that slow sites will cost you visitors that don't have high-speed connections (and that such users still exist in sufficient numbers for concern) and that high-bandwidth pages cost money. I would further argue that optmization is still important even for high-bandwidth users who are increasingly impatient.

You can check your download times using Net Mechanic's HTML Toolbox or WebSiteOptimization.com's Web Page Analyzer (which you can easily use via Chris Pederick's Web Developer Extension for Firefox).

It is interesting that many web programmers worry about the fastest syntax possible, but ignore image optimization. You can usually shave milliseconds with server-side syntax (ColdFusion or ASP for example). You can often save a second or more with one image optimization. Most image optimizations are several orders of magnitude more effective than most syntax neuroses.

If you want to optimize your sites, pick up the "Web Site Optimization" book; I highly recommend it. You are also welcome to contact me for assistance with optimization or contact the real experts.

As soon as I get caught up on my paying work, I will optimize my own site and I will report the results here.