links in new windows: threat or menace?

[egypturnash]

From a brief discussion on the practice of making links in your LJ open in new windows...

[Poll #810323]

Feel free to expand on your opinion in the comments!

Comments

[shatterstripes.livejournal.com]

Me, I hate it. Especially when I get a page with a lot of links, all of which force a new window. I keep a bookmarklet in my browser toolbar to force all links on a page to open in the same window.

Every now and then it's useful, but casually and habitually making every link open in a new window bugs the fuck out of me. Most forums nowadays default to this behavior, and it always makes my teeth grind.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

If I want a new window, I'll tell my computer to give me one. But the odds are I either want it in my current window, or in a new tab.

I despite sites that force 'new windows' on me.

[wolfwings.livejournal.com]

Especially with how incompatable that is with tabbed browsing.

The point of HTML is not to make pixel-specific 'popup window' style sites. I especially despise those. Use the HTML like it's intended, as a dynamically self-adjusting layout script that can handle changing window sizes automagically, and we'll get along fine. And I get doubly-screwed because I'm running widescreen so a lot of websites will go, "Oh, you're 1280 wide, here's a version that's 960 or 1024 tall!" and leave me more-or-less screwed. :-P

[kamenkyote.livejournal.com]

Gee, since my latest LJ entry (which you commented on) has links that open new windows... I wonder... :"D Seriously, I do that onl purpose as that's how I like to navigate myself. Don't know nothin' 'bout them fancy tab browser thingies. If there's more than one link in a given entry or page, I like to keep the main one open in the background so I can look at one window, close it, then open the next without reloading.

That being said, I guess there's really no reason not to let the person browsing choose to open the new window or not on their own.

[normanrafferty.livejournal.com]

I'm in the habit of shift-clicking (IE) or ctrl-clicking (FF) on websites, but I'm wacky.

One rule is clear: under no circumstances should a link actually be a Java applet for opening a new window. Not only does that screw up the tabbed browsers, it can easily malfunction. If one must, use the "target" tag.

[zenmouse.livejournal.com]

I think the best practice with this is if you have multiple links from a single blog entry, you should have all links go to the same target. (ie. target="something_other_than_blank") That way a new window opens away from the blog for your references and you can switch between those two windows.

Actually, it would be best if they could make a custom LJ HTML tag for links. You could specify the behavior of links in your options and LJ would render the links appropriately.

[10fc04.livejournal.com]

all links shall open in the same window.
all links shall open in a tab whed middle-mouse clicked in Firefox. broken javascript links that spawn a new empty window are not acceptable.

[wolflahti.livejournal.com]

Links should open in a new tab. Why isn't this an option in your poll?

I didn't understand what the big deal was about tabbed browsing until I actually used it. Then where-have-you-been-all-my-life?!

[starbiter.livejournal.com]

Uh, I'm not voting, because I open new links in a new tab in Firefox whenever I feel like it. So I guess my vote would be "leave it alone" ??? :D

[kajarainbow.livejournal.com]

My vote is because for very specific purposes I do find opening in a new window by default to be handy. I like just clicking to open my webcomics to read from one of the sites I use to monitor comic updates (the other does open-in-same-window but I just middle-click or the like). I also like opening things in a new window from Bloglines (online RSS reader). However, it would annoy me less to do without open-in-new-window than to continue having the many inappropriate uses I see. I would find most ideal having per-site settings for automatic opening of links in new windows.

I use Firefox about:config hidden settings, or an extension, to force things to open in new tabs instead of new windows.

[murrypurryfurry.livejournal.com]

Right-click -> Open in new tab. I love being the one in control, nuts to the web-designer. NUTS!

Barring that, always in a new window - always always! I was just viewing your page, why are you trying to drive me away from your page? I liked it there! Now I've forgotten all about it! Sucks to be you.

[klawzie.livejournal.com]

Belatedly, I guess:
If I want it in another window, I'll right-click: Open in new window (or, occassionally, new tab). Otherwise, I want it to stay in the window I was using. :3

[trikotomy.livejournal.com]

I have links open in the same new window if I have more than one link present (using plain old target="whatever", which doesn't interfere with tabs or create a shrunken, featureless tardwindow), something that, to my knowledge, one can't command a browser to do. I also usually insert links in the middle of a paragraph, so I assume people would want to have the text and the link open at the same time. However, I admit it's something of a habit and I often do it without thought or justification.

[euphoriel.livejournal.com]

The only time I ever deal with new windows is when it won't open by middle-clicking it into a new tab in the background, normally caused by Javascript funkery. I don't go back to those websites a second time if I can help it, though.

[eyod.livejournal.com]

I have firefox automaticly set new windows to tabs, and I always open links in tabs anyway (hurray mouse wheel)