Consumer `Internet experience' is hampered by routers, servers, crowded backbones, and protocols pushed far beyond their anticipated capacity. Consumers may mistakenly attribute fluctuations in Internet weather to merchants. A sudden gift of popularity can easily knock out an unprepared service--the mere mention of a url on the college weblog Slashdot can lead to server-choking traffic (the slashdot effect) within minutes.
prepared by sean dreilinger.