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MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option

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One of the common complaints with the MSDN website is the fact that the pages are pretty fat. The team has done a lot to make this better, but there's still some stuff in there that not everyone needs.
 
If you're interested in an extremely skinny version of the MSDN docs, give the new LOBAND rendering format a try. To use it, stick (loband) - inlcuding the parens - at the end of an MSDN URL, before the .aspx. For example, the documentation for System.Xml.XmlReader is normally at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.xml.xmlreader.aspx. But if you surf instead to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.xml.xmlreader(loband).aspx, you'll get the new, low-bandwidth rendering of the page. There's a link at the top of the LOBAND rendering that lets you make it permanent via a cookie (you can turn it off later via a similar link).
 
It makes quite a difference. On my machine, I see the regular version at about 98KB, and the LOBAND version at just over 18KB - and the 98KB doesn't count the TOC tree, which doesn't render in the LOBAND version. Not a huge deal for those on high-bandwidth connections in the US, perhaps, but there are lots of people who don't fit that description.
 
Note that the team already has planned improvements for the next regular update of the site. But don't let that stop you from letting them know if you have any ideas about how to make it better. You can drop a comment here or contact me - I'll make sure it gets sent on.
 
And no, I didn't have anything to do with implementing this - I'm just blogging it. :)
Posted Jun 26 2008, 12:17 PM by craig-andera

Comments

Bob wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 06-26-2008 9:08 PM

You mean "those on high-bandwidth connections in South Korea". The "high bandwidth connections" in the US are a joke by comparison.

Do you happen to know if they'll end up moving to this format as the default?

Reflective Perspective - Chris Alcock » The Morning Brew #124 wrote Reflective Perspective - Chris Alcock » The Morning Brew #124
on 06-27-2008 1:25 AM

Pingback from  Reflective Perspective - Chris Alcock  » The Morning Brew #124

Sergio Pereira wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 06-27-2008 6:37 AM

Thanks for that tip... I have this feeling that MSDN is on continuous degradation over the last 5 years. First they broke the search feature, then the library.

The lo-band version at least makes it tolerable. Am I grumpy or what? TGIF.

Mehul Harry wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 06-27-2008 11:24 AM

Great speed. Make that the default instead of having to put in Loband. Or an option to store it in a cookie somewhere. Thanks for the tip.

SeeR wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 06-27-2008 9:53 PM

And of course don't forget to create update for MSDN included with Visual Studio. I mean that I want to be able to choose LOBAND if I'm using MSDN online.

I'm living in Poland and here the difference is really visible.

craig-andera wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 07-09-2008 9:47 AM

So I'm not sure what the plans are as far as making this the default. But I try to forward all comments, and I'll certainly be pointing the team to the comments here.

Glad to hear that it's making a difference for some people.

@Mehul: there's already a link on the page that makes it the default by storing it in a cookie.

Joe Chung wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 07-18-2008 3:36 AM

The navigation links in the lo-band version point to the regular versions.  They should point to the lo-band versions instead.  Here's another vote for lo-band being the default, too.

craig-andera wrote re: MSDN Low-Bandwidth Rendering Option
on 07-18-2008 5:12 AM

@Joe: If you click "persist low bandwidth view" (right at the top of the page, the loband view becomes the default, and all the links render the low-bandwidth view.

things & stuff » Blog Archive » Make MSDN Load Faster wrote things & stuff » Blog Archive » Make MSDN Load Faster
on 08-28-2008 12:23 PM

Pingback from  things & stuff  » Blog Archive   » Make MSDN Load Faster

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