[thelist] Pop-up Blocker v. Opening a new window

[M. Seyon]

Message from T-- (6/8/2005 05:46 PM)


>>Exactly. Which is why you should allow for the option, and not force the 
>>pop-up on me. I'm quite aware of how to open my own additional windows.
>
>T--}  Ah, you wrote _"I'm aware"_.  Hmmm.  Good to know that you consider 
>your _own_ desires/skill (but not others') to be a reasonable 
>representation of all web users

They're not. And I don't.

My point was, an ordinary link may be opened in a new window, or not, at 
the user's discretion, using *existing* built-in browser controls. Every 
single browser I have ever used has a "open link in new window" option.

The same does not hold true in a reverse situation. There is no "open link 
in same window" option for links explicitly told to open in a new window. 
Rather, to accomplish this task, the user must first determine the new url, 
either by viewing source and copying the url or by hovering and manually 
retyping from the status bar.

One method gives a convenient choice. The other doesn't.

Your argument is that users don't know how to use their browser. One could 
as easily argue that a user could become confused/disoriented by a new 
window that suddenly appears, blocking their previous window, and of course 
also disabling global browser controls (back button, etc).

So rather than force this non-standard behaviour on your users why not take 
the time to educate them on what their browser is capable of all by itself? 
Benefit the Internet community while you're at it.

FWIW spawned windows can be a pain in Firefox, as I've discovered in my 
very brief experience with it. Sometimes a "new window" link in FF spawns 
an actual new window, rather than a new tab. And one of the reasons many 
people use FF is the tabbed browsing interface. So you're certainly not 
doing them any favours.

regards.
-marc

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