Re: page size

>I average a 26.4 kbps
>connection.  I have a 56kbps modem and my ISP... claims to
>offer 56K connection.

That is very common. Almost no one achieves 56 K and something in the 
30s or high 20s is common. Another Internet service provider might or 
might not improve things, depending on distances, where the phone 
line problems are, etc.

>So what would be a good total file size for a page,
>including graphics, etc.?

I recommend 30-40K max for a home page, 20-30 for the rest of the 
site. It's not a rigid rule, of course. Depends on the speed your 
users can attain and how motivated they are to see that page. But 
clearly, less is more and it is hugely important, if you want to 
maximize your audience, to make your pages as slim as you can.

>I like using graphics quite
>a bit because they can really enhance a page.

Optimize your graphics using ImageReady or FireWorks or other tools. 
I can usually halve the size of almost anyone's graphics. Tricks:

- Use small graphics in clever ways.

- Use JPEG or GIF as appropriate.

- With JPEG, lower quality settings, especially on smaller graphics, 
work pretty well.

- With GIF, reduce number of colors as much as you can -- makes huge 
size difference.

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