Test Your Product on a Crappy Laptop

A significant disparity exists between the high-powered devices used for web development and the more modest devices most users employ to access online content. Websites are increasingly large and complex, further exacerbating this issue.

The solution? Test your website or web application on a low-spec laptop.

These budget laptops, with their limited processing power and often pre-installed resource-intensive software, represent a significant portion of the user base. They're prevalent and not going away anytime soon.

While testing, note:

• Slow loading elements.
• Elements loading so slowly as to be unusable.
• Elements that fail to load entirely.

Based on these observations, develop a remediation plan.

Industry Benchmarks

Currently, CSS-Tricks' user base primarily utilizes powerful, modern desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones with updated operating systems and ample processing power.

While not representative of all web developers, CSS-Tricks' audience offers valuable insights into prevalent industry practices. These devices typically boast:

• Powerful processors.
• Abundant RAM.
• Extensive storage.
• High-resolution displays.
• High-speed internet connectivity.

Unfortunately, these specifications are not universal among all users.

Survivorship Bias

World War I British soldiers, initially equipped with felt or leather helmets, transitioned to the Brodie helmet, a steel helmet designed to protect against head injuries. Following its introduction, head injuries among soldiers increased dramatically. However, this increase reflected improved survival rates of injuries that would have previously been fatal. This illustrates survivorship bias—focusing solely on those who successfully navigate a selection process (in this case, survival). Similarly, website analytics only reflect users who successfully load and use the content, overlooking those who experience poor performance and abandon the site.

Data Limitations

Website analytics don't capture users who fail to load or use your website due to performance issues. While sophisticated analytics exist, they often fail to account for users who load a portion of the site but leave due to a poor user experience.

Identifying Culprits

Testing on a low-spec laptop can highlight performance bottlenecks, but the root causes often lie in:

1. Third-party assets: Analytics and CRM packages, while essential, can significantly impact performance. Controlling their code and resource usage is challenging.
2. External requests: Requests for third-party assets often originate from those unaware of or unconcerned about performance implications.

Addressing these issues requires integrating performance considerations into broader business strategies.

Regular Performance Audits

Implementing regular performance testing, perhaps integrating it into existing usability testing, provides valuable insights into real-world user experiences. Sharing these findings with stakeholders can effectively demonstrate the impact of performance issues on user engagement.

Dedicated Low-Spec Testing

Dedicate a device for regular testing. Most development tools are compatible with low-spec machines, enabling realistic performance assessments. If tasks are significantly slowed, it highlights the need for optimization.

Beyond Economic Disadvantage

It's crucial to avoid equating low-spec devices solely with economic disadvantage. Various factors can lead to the use of lower-powered technology, regardless of socioeconomic status. High-performance, user-friendly websites should be accessible to all, regardless of device or circumstance.

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