Test your product on a crappy laptop (css-tricks.com)

Article summary

The article suggests testing web products on low-performance devices, such as old laptops, to ensure they are accessible to a wider range of users. This approach can help identify performance issues and improve the overall user experience. The article also notes that many websites are optimized for powerful devices and may not work well on lower-end hardware. By testing on slower devices, developers can create more inclusive and performant web experiences.

Main themes

• website performance
• accessibility
• user experience
• device testing
• web development
• marketing priorities
• legacy systems
• inclusive design

What commenters say

• Developers have the power to stop website bloat by making conscious design choices.
• Marketing and sales teams often prioritize features and tracking over performance and user experience.
• Testing on low-end devices is essential to ensure accessibility and usability for a broader range of users.
• Older systems can be more representative of real-world usage than low-end modern devices.
• The decision to prioritize performance is often out of the hands of developers and in the hands of management or marketing teams.
• Using low-end devices for testing can help developers understand the pain points of users with slower hardware and connections.
• Legacy systems and older devices are still widely used and should be considered when developing web applications.
• The use of tracking libraries and large images can significantly impact website performance and user experience.