The Matter of Browser Research Spiral
The research began for one decision. There are now twenty-three tabs. The decision has not been made. The research is still ongoing.
The decision was: which laptop to buy.
The research for the decision began at 7pm. By 9pm, the decision had not been made and the research had become more complex than when it started.
The Spiral
At 7pm: three candidate laptops identified. Three tabs.
At 7:30pm: a fourth candidate appeared in a review of the first three. The fourth candidate was added. Four tabs.
At 7:45pm: a forum thread from 2024 was found in which many people had asked the same question and received many different answers. Eight additional tabs representing the options and arguments from the thread.
At 8:15pm: a video review of the leading candidate was watched. The video mentioned a spec comparison with a fifth candidate not previously in the research. A tab for the fifth candidate.
At 8:45pm: a buying guide was found that covered the subject comprehensively. The guide was helpful but raised a question about operating system that was outside the original scope. A tab opened to address this question.
At 9pm: twenty-three tabs. All open. None resolved.
The Decision
The decision cannot currently be made because there is more information in the tabs than can be synthesized in a single session. The research has grown to a size that makes the decision more complex, not less.
The decision was made on day three after starting over with two tabs: the laptop that had been the leading candidate on day one, and its closest competitor.
The first candidate was purchased.
It was the right laptop. The research was both necessary and excessive.