below: one way to cater for dial-up users without compromising the full-blown broadband experience is to offer alternative versions of your site. An HTML version without multimedia content will suit slow connection as well as users who may lack the latest software. 'sniffer' code can be used to detect browser versions and the presence of plug-ins, but the result are not entirely reliable. Asking the user explicitly is safer, but delays the initial experience of the site.