The reason I make all my links open in a new window (when I remember) is because if I'm looking at a blog and I click on a link and it opens in the same window, I will get all engrossed in whatever I was looking at, and I will forget where it came from or what I was doing. That's why I prefer new windows, but I never considered the fact that other people might not like them! There I go projecting again!

interesting question...esp as i'm starting on my own blog, and i am putting in links. while i personally right click almost all of the time for a new window or tab, i do that because i am not always finished with the site that i'm on. and as i'm putting links into my own blog, i have it set to open in a new window, probably because i like opening links in a separate location than what i'm currently reading. it's like lisa & brianne said - i am not always ready to leave a site, but do want to open a link. make sense? i feel like i'm rambling w/jumbled thoughts...

I never knew you could right click and decide! However, when I just tried it, I selected "open in new tab" and both the tab I was on and the new one opened to the site in the link. Not sure why that happened. I don't like when a link just takes you to the new site instead of opening a new window because as someone else said, you may get distracted and forget to go back to the original site you were on.

Actually, same window or new window really is relavant to where the link is and if I have more to read on the website its on. For example, if you are putting a link in the middle of an article as a reference point to what you're writing about I'd like the link to open in a second window so I can look at it, and if I want to review it more detail 'after' I finish reading your post. I prefer it this way in these cases because I have had situations where the back button causes problems, or because I find it equally annoying to go back to a site and find the place where I left off.

On the other hand, if the link is a reference at the end of a post where I don't need to come back to finish reading, then the same window is prefered. Depending on the day and my mood, sometimes I won't bother going back to the prior site to finish reading if a link opens in the same window.

Maybe everyone doesn't know how to open a link in a new window. This is something I know, and have found myself quite often right clicking on the link and clicking on 'Open in New Window (or Tab)'. Then the choice mine for sure.

Im a right clicker all the way! I have everything open up in a new tab because i have having different windows all over the place.. sometimes you cant even see which tab has what on it since i have so many open.. I make my way through eventually but it makes me feel kind of organized.. I pay do my bills using different tabs also.. i open up as many tabs as i need.. go to the website.. log in.. pay.. calculate.. sign off.. Again tabs just make me feel organized lol

I voted "Who cares, I decide by right clicking" because I never know what someone has done with the link and after having new windows open so much I've learned to not even try to just click the link! So, maybe my real answer is "open in the same window." But, now that I use Firefox as my primary browser I actually like when a link opens a new tab...tabs feel so organized while extra windows seem so cluttered to me.

Brainne - Nothing to forgive! I love that you had the guts to ask and now look at the awesome discussion we've had around it! :)

and thanks so much for the compliment!

From Lisa Brown:
While I like to decide for myself, and know how to right-click to do it, I can see why someone would complain. They are reading YOUR blog. They don’t want to get sidetracked into some other site and forget about you. It’s a compliment to your site that they don’t want to leave it to read something you recommend.

Hi--I'm the one who asked about a new window. I honestly had no clue about the right click thing--and I REALLY didn't want to come off as "complaining." Please forgive my ignorance :) But what Lisa wrote about my not wanting to get sidetracked off your blog is EXACTLY right. That's what I was trying to say and failed miserably!!!!!!

While I like to decide for myself, and know how to right-click to do it, I can see why someone would complain. They are reading YOUR blog. They don't want to get sidetracked into some other site and forget about you. It's a compliment to your site that they don't want to leave it to read something you recommend.

GEEK! Just kidding. Steve Krug is one of my favorite usability authors. Speaking of usability, yesterday I was observing a usability test of a web application I developed and an older woman (65-74) must have said about 4 times how she didn't understand why certain pages weren't opening up in a new window (because 'her' internet does that). The web app I'm developing is for the government, a branch which presently doesn't allow us to spawn new window (without profusely warning the user). Personally, I right click everything and open it in a new tab. Since discovering tabs, I hate multiple browser windows.

Thanks for creating this blog - it's a fun read!
-Holly

I prefer it when the link opens in a new tab. I use Firefox (maybe IE does this too now?), so almost any link "programmed" to open in a new window simply opens up a new tab on my already open browser. I like this because I'm not lead away from the source material I was originally reading.

The web can be sensory overload and I'll often forget where I originally clicked on a link in the first place if I don't still have the original article open in a tab in front of me.

I use Firefox, so I like things opening in a new tab. So, on certain websites I just know to right click and open in new tab. When I read your posts and you have a few links I just open them in new tabs and browse through them when I'm done reading your post.

I *hate* things opening up in a new window, but a new TAB is where it's at! Links that just redirect to the page are annoying, personally and I always think that the person who made them just didn't know how to code it properly to open in a new tab. I had no idea that some people don't like new tabs! LOL I must be living in a bubble. Ahaha.

Before Mozilla and tabs I preferred to either have them open in the same window or decide for myself. 10 instances of IE is never EVER a good thing if ya ask me.

Nowadays I actually get irritated when externals Don't open in a new tab. I've got 7 going right now and I'm using them all!

I'm all about the new window! I use Firefox though, so it's just another tab, not a another window so that never bugs me - but I could see how users might be "bothered" :)

And you are NOT old! :)

I think most people don't think about how automatic things like these can trip up a person's computer. If you have an older browser or computer, having all of these things happening at once can cause problems. And if it causes a problem, you will probably lose a visitor.

This is interesting. I have no design background and have always set up my links to open in a new window, so the user could see the original post AND the link. Honestly it never even occurred to me that the new window approach might annoy people, it certainly doesn't bother me. I've always seen it as giving the reader a comprehensive, big picture view. Guess I need to re-think that now!!

YES! My thoughts too. I HATE autoplay.

I design too and I learned that you NEVER force a user's browser to do something that they have not told it to do: no autoplay music, no autoplay video, no opening links in new windows.