Tabbed Browsing

Firefox and IE7

[nigassma]

There was a quick thread on the exact question I am about to ask back in November but the thread is now closed. So I wanted to know if anything has changed since then.

The thread asked: Is there a way to force a link open in a new tab versus opening it in a new window?

The answer was a unanimous: NO! And why should we force it upon our users.

My two cents on that topic: Sometimes a new tab is prefferable over a new window for a variety of reasons that we are all aware of already. If tabbed browsing is not an option for the user then the new window is just fine.

Now onto my thread...

First, I was wondering if this sentiment has changed, and if there is anything new out there regarding this topic.

Second, why is it that if I click on a link in an non-web-browsing application, 95% of the time the link opens in a new tab? Sometimes the link opens in a new tab, while others in the current tab, and even others in new windows. What's the deal?

Is there something here that software engineers know that web developers don't?

[jessejump]

>>>>> Second, why is it that if I click on a link in an non-web-browsing application, 95% of the time the link opens in a new tab? Sometimes the link opens in a new tab, while others in the current tab, and even others in new windows. What's the deal?

FF options / Tabs

[tedster]

an non-web-browsing application... Is there something here that software engineers know that web developers don't?

Here's how I see it. When someone is using an application interface, they are much more invested in learning and using the particular program.

But when someone comes to a website, they just don't need or want to be challenged by any screen behaviors that are unanticipated. The more a website does this, the higher percentage of its users will be perturbed and not convert, come back, become a lead, whatever outcome the site was hoping to generate.

[edited by: tedster at 8:51 pm (utc) on April 10, 2006]

[nigassma]

FF options / Tabs

Tabbed browsing is what I love and am glad it is defaulted like this.

when someone comes to a website, they just don't need or want to be challenged by any screen behaviors that are unanticipated.

I guess I am so used to tabbed browsing that a new window is more of an unanticipated screen behavior than a new tab is.

[emily]

Install "Tab Mix Plus" add-on for Firefox :)

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[edited by: tedster at 5:02 pm (utc) on April 17, 2006]