Speed of Access to Web Sites

Now that web hosting companies have become more competitive at seeking out new business, there is less differential in speed than there ever used to be.

It is often the case that the design of a web page will have a more dramatic effect on perceived speed than a slightly faster web host. Many sites use graphics that can be substantially reduced in file size, or redesigned so that they have smaller, simpler graphics. Speed is also a measure of the communication system, it will often be the case (especially without a broadband connection) that the slowest step is getting the data from the Internet to the client computer over a 56K modem line.

Site Vigil lets you measure the speed of access over time and build up a profile of the basic site speed.