Subject: Re: Stats on browser type From: "Eric Meyer" Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 18:53:57 -0500
How the Web Was Won
Subject: Re: Stats on browser type From: "Eric Meyer" Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 18:53:57 -0500
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> The browser stats discussion, especially the initial post, was
> interesting.
> 
> To go a different direction with this: Has anyone seen an recent
> research that:
> 
> a) Breaks down or estimates modem-speed stats, i.e., what percentage of
> Web users have 28.8, etc.
> 
> b) Breaks down or estimates the kinds of monitors people use, i.e., what
> percentage of people have 640x480 monitors, what percentage have
> 800x600, etc.

These are almost impossible to measure accurately, since the only way 
to get data, particularly on screen resolution, would be to trust 
self-reported information and, in most cases, resort to a convenience 
sample. Both speed and resolution would be factors in determining 
participation in a survey; a 14.4 user might bypass the form because 
it unfurled too slowly. Likewise, people often don't know -- or will 
not tell the truth about -- resolution. You'll get a lot of answers 
like "standard Mac" or "VGA/SVGA," which say nothing.

If we could get such data as environment variables from browsers, 
the situation would be much different. But, unfortuately, we can't.
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