An option to have links automatically open in a new window (i.e. “tab” with the appropriate browser settings).
I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve clicked a link, read through it, closed the page and wondered where the lesswrong article I was reading went. Based on how exceedingly difficult a habit this is to break I would assume many (most?) other sites open links outside the current window by default.
The standard behaviour of links since the web began has been to replace the current page with the new one. This is a strong argument for not making this change. However, often one does want to open a link in a new window or tab, which is a strong reason for making this functionality available in a web browser. So strong, that it has been done: Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer all provide this by the use of modifier keys with the click, and you can choose whether focus goes to the new page or stays with the old.
I probably use command-click (open in a new window behind the current window) more often than plain click, but even so, I don’t want any one site to make that behaviour the default. I still need all three (open behind, open in front, or replace) from time to time, and having the modifier keys work differently on one site does not benefit anyone.
An option to have links automatically open in a new window (i.e. “tab” with the appropriate browser settings).
I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve clicked a link, read through it, closed the page and wondered where the lesswrong article I was reading went. Based on how exceedingly difficult a habit this is to break I would assume many (most?) other sites open links outside the current window by default.
The standard behaviour of links since the web began has been to replace the current page with the new one. This is a strong argument for not making this change. However, often one does want to open a link in a new window or tab, which is a strong reason for making this functionality available in a web browser. So strong, that it has been done: Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer all provide this by the use of modifier keys with the click, and you can choose whether focus goes to the new page or stays with the old.
I probably use command-click (open in a new window behind the current window) more often than plain click, but even so, I don’t want any one site to make that behaviour the default. I still need all three (open behind, open in front, or replace) from time to time, and having the modifier keys work differently on one site does not benefit anyone.
Also, the Kindle’s web browser is incapable of handling links that open in new windows. So tim’s suggestion would make LW unusable on the Kindle.
I am confused by the downvotes. Could someone explain why having this feature as an option would be a bad thing?
I think the downvotes come from how it might be difficult to implement, especially with the current hacked-together state of this website.
Ah, as someone who knows nothing about web design it seemed like a trivial feature to implement. Thanks for clearing that up.