It is important to assess the equipment your target audience would be using by large to influence design decisions. Since HTML is platform independent, so the type of user machine is irrelevant.

The other technologies which may influence your design decision are:

Monitor resolution

Monitor resolution is an important factor. The best is to design it to a lower end standard i.e.14-inch monitor , set at 800×600 pixels, with standard 256 colors.

Browser Software

Browser Software Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet explorer are the most popular and support all the latest extensions to HTML. Some browsers are text based only means no graphics for the user like Lynx. Each browser has its own quirks that you must consider when designing. If you are designing the site considering a higher end graphical browser, you should make alternative content available for people using less capable browsers as well.

Browser Software

Helper applications and plug-ins Audio clips, video clips, multimedia content, and some image formats require the use of separate viewer program (a helper application) or a program that works with the browser to display content inline (a plug-in). While using these elements in your site, make sure your audience has ( or at least has access to) the additional software needed to view them.

Connection Speed

Connection Speed Consider the types of connectivity your users will have and then design appropriately. It may compel you to scale back on multimedia content and perhaps even some graphics content as well.

Did you miss any of these related posts?

• Search Marketing Strategy
• 5 Tips to choose right Broadband Connection
• Know Your Audience
• 7 benefits of Social Bookmarking