From a personal level, I really dislike sites that open links in new windows. Like I'll try to avoid that site in future. My rationale is that if I want a link to open in a new window then I'll middle click! (or ctrl click :)
The only research I've found about this is Jakob Neilson's site (useit.com). However, you'll have to use google to find the pages - I can never navigate around it :) Tim On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 1:18 PM, Jonathan Abbett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > If it's any consolation, the technology itself offers some guidance-- > > * Strict XHTML does not support the "target" attribute in an anchor tag > * W3C accessibility guidelines instruct not to launch a new window > "without informing the user" > http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT-TECHS/#tech-avoid-pop-ups > > I'm generally hesitant to let the lowest common denominator (i.e. > text-based browsers) dictate how I implement a web site, but hewing to > the standard might be wise. Looking forward to some hard evidence ;) > > -Jonathan > > > On Sat, Sep 27, 2008 at 5:49 PM, Robert Hoekman Jr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > >> > >> I know the answer is "it depends", because there are certainly going to > be > >> exceptions to whatever the general best practice may be, but any actual > data > >> from usability research would be better than the articles I've found. > >> > > > > Btw, if the general rule is to open links in the same window, then might > > blogs be one of the exceptions? Instinctively, it seems wrong to have an > > external link within a blog post open in the same window. You're > essentially > > hijacking your own content—the stuff you want the person to read—with > > related or supporting content on another site. Yes, that's what the Back > > button is for, I know, but it seems more logical to collect open windows > of > > the external links rather than go back-and-forth. > > > > Honestly, it would be a relief to be wrong about this. It would save me a > > whole lot of hassle adding _blank to HREFs, but I'm concerned about > whether > > or not most web users know at least one way to open a link in a new > window > > or tab manually, and if only some users know these shortcuts, it feels > like > > bouncing them back-and-forth is less effective than new windows. > > > > Again, happy to be wrong, so please, argue with me. > > > > -r- > > ________________________________________________________________ > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > > > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > -- Kei te kōrero tiki au. Kei te kōrero tiki koe. Ka kōrero tiki tāua. Kōrero ai tiki tāua. ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
