The typical "responsive" approach to mobile web software suffers from a performance perspective. The typical developer will start with a desktop design or a mobile design and using media queries and css they will transform one design to adapt and morph into the other.
The problem with this approach is that your mobile device still needs to download the javascript, css and process the media queries to make that possible.
I propose an alternate approach:
- Design for mobile first
- Develop for mobile using minimal CSS and no Javascript
- Load additional CSS/Script on non-mobile devices to transform the design as needed for larger screens.
Designing for mobile first forces choice and constraint. When done well it produces better designs. It's a minor philosophical change but it'll result in mobile sites that are fast, and that's the true definition of responsive.