How many people do you think don't know you can open a new browser

window?

[HughMungus]

From meeting people online, I'd say 20%. Sheesh.

[vkaryl]

Due to the number of people I know personally with whom I've had conversations of this sort in the last year, I'd up that estimate to 30%. As you say.... sheesh.

[mcavic]

Not to mention the people who don't understand about minimizing a window.

[rocknbil]

We were just talking about this the other day.If it weren't for an IE shortcut on the desktop, 50% of our users would be totally lost.

[webnerd]

Or how about the users that don't know that they can build their own home page on their own computer?

My guess is that maybe 10% know how to build a local html file to be used as their Home page.

Maybe less.

[sem4u]

I guess it is at least 50% of users. People are amazed when I tell them it is possible...

[AWildman]

In my target audience, the percentage of people who don't know you can open a new browser window is 100%! They can't even tell you WHAT browser they are using if they know what a browser is at all. "Ma'am, what browser are you using?" "Oh...I think we have a Dell..."

[Chndru]

And just why is it funny?

[AWildman]

Is it funny? I don't think so. Our customers are using technology to teach others. How can one reasonably expect to educate others using a technology that one doesn't understand in the least? It boggles my mind. But, tech support has perhaps made me a bit jaded.

People only learn as much about a technology as they HAVE to learn in order to get it to do the things within the scope of their interest. For better or worse, that has been my experience.

[Reflection]

Windows should come with a basic turorial that teaches basic computer things such as what a window is, copy/paste etc. Following the tutorial their will be a test. If you fail the test you must re-do the tutorial and take the test again. You cannot gain access to windows until you pass the test :)

To extend this test system, they should require tests to open up certain areas of the computer such as accessing the interweb, installing a program, using windows explorer etc, etc.

Probably not a practical idea, but it would atleast teach people how to use their computers and probably save them a lot of trouble(and money).

[mivox]

Not practical? I had a Macintosh Performa years ago that came with an absolutely adorable "walkthrough" tutorial that covered everything from how to use the mouse to what windows were and how to open and close them...

[httpwebwitch]

I resent having to put "bookmark this page" links on my pages because people can't figure out how to do it unassisted.

[Xeal_PM]

The test is not a bad idea.

Also though, if you had already passed the test once, you should receive a passcode to skip the test if you buy a new computer or reinstall windows.

[AWildman]

While tests are a nifty idea, I think a practical idea would be to give out quick reference sheets with keyboard shortcuts with every new computer. That way, as they skim down the list of shortcuts (and other handy non-keystroke items) they can get a sense of what they are able to do at their own pace. I know computers come with instruction manuals, but I'm thinking a nice laminated quick reference guide, like the VisiBone guides.

[Reflection]

But what's a shortcut? ;)

[DaveN]

dam i don't know how to open a new browser window ... tut tut

but ctrl-T opens a new tab if that helps ;)

DaveN

[TheDoctor]

I get the impression that a lot of people don't want to know this. They're in love with the "back" button. If they can use the "back" button, they feel like they're in control.

New window = no "back" button = out of control :)

[Automan Empire]

Quote: "Ma'am, what browser are you using?" "Oh...I think we have a Dell..."

Reminds me of an old TV repair joke:
Woman on phone: "My TV doesn't work, what do you think is wrong? "
Technician: "Do you have a raster?"
Caller: "No, I have a Magnavox."

If you think this is bad, you ought to see the way people ignore the owners manuals in their cars! Oh, the calls I get as a result!

</self-righteousness>
'Course, I haven't figured out yet how to make quote boxes on this particular forum......

[vkaryl]

Automan Empire: to make quote boxes, start the line for the text with {quote}, insert the text you want to see "boxed" and end the line with {/quote} - replace the curly braces with square braces [ and ].

FYI: this page [webmasterworld.com] gives you a WHOLE SLEW of codes to help out your posting....

[tbear]

About 4 years ago, I partnered with a guy who was starting an internet cafe (I did the website side). He would sometimes have 3 or 4 computers occupied 'cos he didn't know how to open a new window (didn't charge more if it was for clients).
He stuffed me and started running the web side himself. He was reselling hosting and all sorts.
Just recently, I understand, he has moved out.
The daft thing is that he had quite a few clients believing everything he said (and paying him good money)!

[lZakl]

About 4 years ago, I partnered with a guy who was starting an internet cafe (I did the website side). He would sometimes have 3 or 4 computers occupied 'cos he didn't know how to open a new window (didn't charge more if it was for clients).

Did he think that AOL is THE internet? I have a client that has no idea what an ISP is. "If you don't have AOL, you're disconnected!" he says. Now when I look at people who can't open a new window, I laugh. But when I see people more ignorant/naive than that, I ask myself, "Why even own a computer? Couldn't you just go to the Sahara and bury your head in the sand and be just as well off?"

-- Zak

[benevolent001]

but the fact is that we have to think,how we hve to make websites much more easier to use and easy to navigate for these users too...but altleast some compromise is required in this as some times i have drop some other important stuff on websites to make it simple...
what are your suggestions for making helpful websites any experiences?

[MatthewHSE]

I always make all my banner ads target="_blank" for this very reason. My visitors consider it a convenience feature to get the new window, so they can investigate the advertiser's site without leaving what they wanted to read on my site.

I once suggested to a siteowner that, in his print advertising, he use capital letters for the first letter of each word of his domain name: www.MyDomain.com. Without trying it himself, he informed me that his site wouldn't work unless all lower-case was used. I can only imagine his surprise when he tried out the various formats of his domain name I told him to try, and they all worked . . . ;)

[oddsod]

I can certify that at least four well known IT journalists in the UK don't know how to right click to open a link in a new window. I'm sure there are more. The editor of one major IT magazine couldn't use my email address to contact me because it's not in the form of a mailto link but uses this text instead: name dot surname at domain dot org.

[cmatcme]

The number of people I met in school, whom I had to explain about multi-tasking. I'd say 40%