Re: Why authors are using Transitional (and target="_blank")

On 20/02/2008, Philip TAYLOR <Philip-and-LeKhanh@royal-tunbridge-wells.org>
wrote:
>
> It may be intuitive for /some/ users.  For myself, whenever
> I need a gloss or guidance from such a form, I right-click
> and select "open in new window".  My decision, not the
> page author's.
>

Er, we're all happy for you, Philip.

But seriously...

As a matter of fact, I do this myself when I feel the need, and I suspect
that many of the public-html subscribers do too. But not everyone knows
about right-clicking. Nor is it always easy even if one does: I run Vista on
a Macbook, which means I have to use three fingers in a very contorted
position to give me a right-click. I'm very grateful for web applications
that use target="_blank" sensibly: they save my fingers. And users who don't
know about right-clicking are probably grateful if their use of such an
application isn't interrupted in a way they don't know how to prevent.

When the accepted and expected behaviour in userland is that a new, generic
window should open, it should be easy to author. HTML already has the
solution (target="_blank"), and should retain it.

When a new generic window is inappropriate, authors should do the right
thing and refrain from using target="_blank", just as they should (and,
nowadays, largely do) refrain from using tables for presentation.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, etc, etc.

Sam