User side factors are factors that the users are in control of, they arise from the users choices such as which software to run, which version of a browser to run and how much memory they choose to use.
Browsers
There are a large range of browsers out there that can be used examples include Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Fire Fox. There is no specific evidence that each of these browsers effect speed on their own but the version can. Every browser often releases updates and has new versions. Fire Fox releases regular updates while Internet Explorer just brings out new versions. Currently Internet Explorer is on version 11, this means that any new websites being created will be optimised to work in this version. If you are trying to access one of these websites in an older browser the performance will be negatively effected some of the content won't work as your browser will be out and date and will not be able to run the more sophisticated content of Internet Explorer 11.
Connection Speed
In an obvious way a websites performance will be negatively affected if a connection to the internet can't be established, you won't be able to access the website. But in fact it's not just as simple as going and getting an internet connection the type of connection can determine the loading time of the website and if all the content even loads at all. There are a wide range of connection types such as dial up, broadband, mobile broadband and WI-FI. To get the best connection possible it is advised not to use a dial up connection, this involves connecting up a modem to telephone lines in order to communicate with the internet service provider. These can provide a slow service especially when many telephones are connected up to and are being used at the same time. Similar can be said for WI-FI, WI-FI works by a receiver sending out frequencies that are then picked up by smartphones, laptops etc to establish a connection. This type of connection can prove troublesome as it is not possible to always be in a WI-FI hot spot and you could encounter trouble connecting if a large number of people are also trying to connect at the same time.
Another option is Mobile Broadband also referred to as Wireless Wide Area Network. This refers to the internet that is picked up from mobile devices through your providers 3G network. Especially with the invention of 4G and EE networks this type of internet has become very fast but it can still hinder website performance as some websites are optimized for PC only and will contain content that will not work on mobile broadband. The final and most common type of connection is simply broadband, often this is the fastest available connection. this means that websites will be loaded quickly and so will the content, also when loaded the content won't be compromised. Broadband works by a cable carrying large amounts of data at high speeds directly into a computer from a router.
PC Memory
Cache Memory- The purpose of cache memory is to speed up the running and add convenience to using a computer. Cache memory works by storing frequently visited websites, this is why you may find yourself typing a web address and it appears after the first two letters, your cache memory has remembered the web address. This type of memory also enhances website performance by helping it to load faster because all of the files from that site have already been transferred to your browser, this means the next time you visit that site its just a case of displaying them rather than downloading them from the web server again.
RAM- RAM stands for Random access memory, RAM is linked to a computer's hard drive when you open up a program it is loaded from the hard drive to the RAM. This allows the speed of a website to be increased because loading from the RAM is a lot quicker than loading from the hard drive. This is why it is beneficial to have a computer with more RAM this effectively means that a computer can load more from the hard drive. In fact increasing the RAM can have a bigger effect on performance than upgrading a computer.
References:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Computer_Science/wifi_explained.asp
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cache1.htm
http://www.techterms.com/definition/ram
http://www.sleepydogmedia.com/blog/what-separates-a-web-design-professional-from-an-amateur/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dial-up_Internet_access
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/glossary/g/mobile-broadband.htm
http://www.techterms.com/definition/broadband
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