Is it just me or do you think all posted links should automatically open in a new window or tab?

 

I know you can right click 'open in new ...' but I often click on the links without thinking and get directed away from here. If I go rooting around on that site then there's potentially loads of back button clicks to get... back.

 

Seems like a logical thing to do would be automatically open in a new window for all links, especially in the review section.

Cool poll, let's see where this goes

not botherd - if i normally want a new window i just press my mouse 3 button - which is pressing the MWheel down

I'm with you on this one I tend to use my mouse wheel button or Ctrl. Any ways shouldn't we be conforming to web standards? ;P

Yeah I think it should, although am starting to get used to right clicking - open tab now

Definately no - opening links in new windows has never made sense because the user can't control what's happening with their browser. With a normal link the user has the choice of both.

 

Usability first!!!

I voted no. What stops you from opening anything in the new window yourself? Just click the mouse wheel in Firefox or use Ctrl

I usually middle click to open links in a new tab/window - makes navigation much easier

Any ways shouldn't we be conforming to web standards? ;P

A little bit of JS would get around that, just don't tell the heavies at W3C

 

Definately no - opening links in new windows has never made sense because the user can't control what's happening with their browser. With a normal link the user has the choice of both.

 

Usability first!!!

 

You do have a point; choice is always a good thing. But I do think in context of the review section it serves two useful purposes. Firstly with the amount of external links posted, people wouldn't be redirected away from here, where they may not bother finding there way back. And secondly, as mentioned by smoothonline, it helps the review process by having it opened separately for people to refer to while typing up comments.

 

 

Maybe some js to add 'open in new window' as an option, like a second link next to it stating 'open in new window'.

 

 

ok, so it's not a big deal and it isn't much of a nuisance to right click and select open in new. Forgetting to do it is annoying though and I just think there's always room for improvement.

I find that if I'm reviewing a linked website, I like to look at all the pages on it, which means to get back to WDF it requires a number of clicks back or go to the recent pages.

 

Opening in a blank page means I can look at the linked site - once finished close the page and I'm back to WDF

 

On the downside, isn't opening new tabs/windows considered bad practice for Accessibility?

I've got a good idea, in the user control panel, a setting that allows users to set the target="_" for their themselves, that way you're conforming to accessibility by not including it, and giving users the option to have it set as target="_blank" or target="_self", I know I'd use the _blank one and I'm sure other people would too, I did a large post the other day, and pressed a link and it took me away from it completely, couldn't recover what was written .

Definately with traxor on this one (as usual).

 

Personally when I develop a site, external site links always get a blank target!!

Bit of a double edged sword aint it?!

 

Personally, I prefer my links to open in a new window so I can shut them down when I have finished.

 

There have been times when I have gone so far past, it impossible to return and I have to go right back to the beginning.

 

!

Before deciding I recommend doing some reading on the subject...

 

http://diveintoaccessibility.org/day_16_not_opening_new_windows.html

http://www.w3.org/WAI/wcag-curric/sam77-0.htm

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/beware-opening-links-new-window/

http://www.456bereastreet.com/archive/200603/the_target_attribute_and_opening_new_windows/