Fast-Downloading Websites are Still Important
http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/nt/2003/nt_2003_04_21_fast.htm

McGovern, Gerry
New Thinking
2003

Abstract:

People are impatient on the Web. They are function and task orientated. They want to get things done as quickly as possible. The average person is still accessing the Web over a 56 KB modem. You should therefore have a major focus on 'light' webpages if you want to increase reader-satisfaction.