Comments on: How do you like your links to behave? http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/ Collaborative coverage of news and events, with a focus on community. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:46:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jason Grigsby http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1608 Jason Grigsby Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:04:45 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1608 Same window. I can right-click if I want to open in a new tab. Plus, the back button is the second most frequently used feature of a browser next to clicking on a link. If you open a new window, you break that feature for the user. They can't hit the back button to return. Same window. I can right-click if I want to open in a new tab.

Plus, the back button is the second most frequently used feature of a browser next to clicking on a link. If you open a new window, you break that feature for the user. They can’t hit the back button to return.

]]> By: Brenda Clark http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1592 Brenda Clark Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:08:40 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1592 I'd rather have a link open in a new window/tab so I don't lose track of the original thing I was reading before I started off on a tangent. (Yes, I'm perhaps too susceptible to tangents) As mentioned by several other people, I usually do this work myself. Also not thrilled with Snap previews. I’d rather have a link open in a new window/tab so I don’t lose track of the original thing I was reading before I started off on a tangent. (Yes, I’m perhaps too susceptible to tangents) As mentioned by several other people, I usually do this work myself.
Also not thrilled with Snap previews.

]]> By: Judge Smails http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1473 Judge Smails Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:26:35 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1473 New Window. New Window.

]]> By: Jason McArthur http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1455 Jason McArthur Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:39:03 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1455 The code calls for a new window but modern browsers catch it and open a new tab instead. So when I said "new window", it's "new tab" in the same window, a new window is just what the HTML calls. I prefer not to have the current _tab_ replaced with the link destination. The code calls for a new window but modern browsers catch it and open a new tab instead. So when I said “new window”, it’s “new tab” in the same window, a new window is just what the HTML calls. I prefer not to have the current _tab_ replaced with the link destination.

]]> By: Kathleen McDade http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1454 Kathleen McDade Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:30:12 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1454 I prefer opening to a new tab, and like Jason I usually right-click/command-click links as I read. In fact, I have my browser set to stay in the original window after clicking, so I usually just read all of the things I clicked on after I finish the original article or blog post. So, technically I guess I prefer opening to a new window, but I'm willing to do the work myself. I prefer opening to a new tab, and like Jason I usually right-click/command-click links as I read. In fact, I have my browser set to stay in the original window after clicking, so I usually just read all of the things I clicked on after I finish the original article or blog post.

So, technically I guess I prefer opening to a new window, but I’m willing to do the work myself.

]]> By: Ali http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1453 Ali Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:26:35 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1453 If I had to choose a preference it'd be to open in the same window because then I can choose to right-click and open in a new tab or a new window, or I can left-click and open it in the same window. Snap previews on links are starting to bug me. (Not that you asked, but as long as we're talking links....) At first I thought they were cool, but they kind of just get in the way. If I had to choose a preference it’d be to open in the same window because then I can choose to right-click and open in a new tab or a new window, or I can left-click and open it in the same window. Snap previews on links are starting to bug me. (Not that you asked, but as long as we’re talking links….) At first I thought they were cool, but they kind of just get in the way.

]]> By: Aaron http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1452 Aaron Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:23:05 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1452 No shortening service. Same window. That's my opinion on what I'd like to see for the masses. Me? I've got my browser configured based on my preferences so it won't matter which target is set. No shortening service. Same window.

That’s my opinion on what I’d like to see for the masses. Me? I’ve got my browser configured based on my preferences so it won’t matter which target is set.

]]> By: jim http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1447 jim Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:38:24 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1447 Definitely in the same window. It's easy enough to open a page in a new window/tab if I want it there, but I'd much rather not have 20 browser windows scattered around my desktop :-) Definitely in the same window. It’s easy enough to open a page in a new window/tab if I want it there, but I’d much rather not have 20 browser windows scattered around my desktop :-)

]]> By: Jason McArthur http://ourpdx.com/2008/10/how-do-you-like-your-links-to-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-1445 Jason McArthur Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:38:27 +0000 http://ourpdx.net/?p=1352#comment-1445 As a habit, I always middle click (or ctrl+click) on links so they'll open in a new tab, I never like to have the originating site be replaced by the link destination. Mostly because I click on links while still reading the post/article, so having it be replaced is not smart. I, Like you, and I'm sure most others, post links with about="_blank" just out of courtesy for those readers who aren't wired to always open links in new windows/tabs. It's _very_ important to open links in new windows/tabs if the originating site is very heavy with javascript, etc, in the first place (consider links from a Google Maps API site, Google Reader.) You don't want them to have to reload a website that took time to render in the first place. Regarding URL generation, I prefer having a title snippet in the URL rather than a number or any other form of shortening. There are a LOT of URL shortening services out there now and have been getting attention recently due to the microblogging trend. The problem with that is I would imagine that most people would like to know what website they're going to end up at as well as maybe what the post is about. An old, and perhaps one of the original URL shortening services (and a decent API, I might add) is http://xrl.us/. When you have it shorten a URL even from the web frontend, it will have an option to post the URL with the domain in parenthesis... Kind of the style you mentioned. xrl.us (which is truly a _short_ URL) does have reverse lookups on links, so you can see where you're destination is. Tinyurl.com, probably by far the most popular these days, does have the same feature. Just add the subdomain 'preview' to the tinyurl link, eg, http://preview.tinyurl.com/53tra6 As a habit, I always middle click (or ctrl+click) on links so they’ll open in a new tab, I never like to have the originating site be replaced by the link destination. Mostly because I click on links while still reading the post/article, so having it be replaced is not smart.

I, Like you, and I’m sure most others, post links with about=”_blank” just out of courtesy for those readers who aren’t wired to always open links in new windows/tabs. It’s _very_ important to open links in new windows/tabs if the originating site is very heavy with javascript, etc, in the first place (consider links from a Google Maps API site, Google Reader.) You don’t want them to have to reload a website that took time to render in the first place.

Regarding URL generation, I prefer having a title snippet in the URL rather than a number or any other form of shortening.

There are a LOT of URL shortening services out there now and have been getting attention recently due to the microblogging trend. The problem with that is I would imagine that most people would like to know what website they’re going to end up at as well as maybe what the post is about. An old, and perhaps one of the original URL shortening services (and a decent API, I might add) is http://xrl.us/. When you have it shorten a URL even from the web frontend, it will have an option to post the URL with the domain in parenthesis… Kind of the style you mentioned.

xrl.us (which is truly a _short_ URL) does have reverse lookups on links, so you can see where you’re destination is. Tinyurl.com, probably by far the most popular these days, does have the same feature. Just add the subdomain ‘preview’ to the tinyurl link, eg, http://preview.tinyurl.com/53tra6

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