Comments on: Poll: How Should Links Behave? http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/ Driving Innovation Thu, 24 May 2012 14:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8852 Jake Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:20:18 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8852 There are services that allow you to pop a preview of links, similar to Panels, which I use on this blog. Panels doesn't preview the content; it tells you about the company behind the domain. <a href="http://Wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Wordpress.com</a> blogs all have Snap Shot built in by default, which pops a preview of the link.<br><br>I've always found those services only mildly useful, but I can see why they're used. As long as the box only pops when you click (not on hover), they're not too bad. I guess that would work. There are services that allow you to pop a preview of links, similar to Panels, which I use on this blog. Panels doesn't preview the content; it tells you about the company behind the domain. WordPress.com blogs all have Snap Shot built in by default, which pops a preview of the link.

I've always found those services only mildly useful, but I can see why they're used. As long as the box only pops when you click (not on hover), they're not too bad. I guess that would work.

]]> By: mayukhb http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8847 mayukhb Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:18:28 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8847 How about something different like a mouse click on the link brings up a dialog box or a mouse hover? That way all information will be in one single window/tab. As the user reads, if he wants to know what information is there in the hyperlink, he can just hover or click on it. Once done he can cancel it or click somewhere on the background.<br><br>Ofcourse, the dialog box needs proper ui design so that it does not make or cause clutter. May be call it something different? How about something different like a mouse click on the link brings up a dialog box or a mouse hover? That way all information will be in one single window/tab. As the user reads, if he wants to know what information is there in the hyperlink, he can just hover or click on it. Once done he can cancel it or click somewhere on the background.

Ofcourse, the dialog box needs proper ui design so that it does not make or cause clutter. May be call it something different?

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8442 Jake Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:29:40 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8442 Don't beat yourself up; I think the writing might not have been clear enough. I think we all agree new tabs > new windows. Don't beat yourself up; I think the writing might not have been clear enough. I think we all agree new tabs > new windows.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8441 Jake Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:15:01 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8441 Yeah, +1 for user control. Yeah, +1 for user control.

]]> By: jpiwowar http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8440 jpiwowar Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:02:12 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8440 >It almost sounds like you're agreeing with me b/c we both want to<br>>control link behavior but can't completely.<br><br>Yeah, looks like I misinterpreted the poll. Instead of "should links open in new windows," I read "do you like tabs?", and responded with "Tabs woooo!" Not one of my finer reading comprehension moments. :) >It almost sounds like you're agreeing with me b/c we both want to
>control link behavior but can't completely.

Yeah, looks like I misinterpreted the poll. Instead of “should links open in new windows,” I read “do you like tabs?”, and responded with “Tabs woooo!” Not one of my finer reading comprehension moments. :)

]]> By: pgkiran http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8439 pgkiran Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:38:10 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8439 Right, for me I like opening the links in new tabs always. Right, for me I like opening the links in new tabs always.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8436 Jake Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:58:09 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8436 You're right about new window and how it behaves in IE6. Another reason I stopped, although very few people read this blog w/IE6. Last I checked, the Friend Connect bar was preventing it from loading. Wasn't that you using IE6 at work?<br><br>I guess I just like the choice factor, like John P, let the user decide. You're right about new window and how it behaves in IE6. Another reason I stopped, although very few people read this blog w/IE6. Last I checked, the Friend Connect bar was preventing it from loading. Wasn't that you using IE6 at work?

I guess I just like the choice factor, like John P, let the user decide.

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8435 Jake Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:49:15 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8435 I'm w/you on Ctrl-Shift-Tab, use it all the time since I've become more managerial about cleaning up tabs.<br><br>It almost sounds like you're agreeing with me b/c we both want to control link behavior but can't completely.<br><br>Re. Flash, it's coming soon to Chrome. I'm happy running both FF and Chrome. Each is good at certain sites, and I like competition :) I'm w/you on Ctrl-Shift-Tab, use it all the time since I've become more managerial about cleaning up tabs.

It almost sounds like you're agreeing with me b/c we both want to control link behavior but can't completely.

Re. Flash, it's coming soon to Chrome. I'm happy running both FF and Chrome. Each is good at certain sites, and I like competition :)

]]> By: Jake http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8434 Jake Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:44:47 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8434 To be clear, this is a new tab vs. new window question. In that case, I agree, new tab. I'm asking if any link-outs from a page (e.g. blog) should open in the current tab or in a new one. You think all links on a page that link away should always open a new tab? Not sure a browser could handle that, but OK. To be clear, this is a new tab vs. new window question. In that case, I agree, new tab. I'm asking if any link-outs from a page (e.g. blog) should open in the current tab or in a new one. You think all links on a page that link away should always open a new tab? Not sure a browser could handle that, but OK.

]]> By: Jim http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8433 Jim Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:55:16 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8433 I used to do open-in-new-window too, but then stopped, when I read about the usability issues it creates, much like you said Jake.<br><br>As ever, there are 10 billion articles on the web whenever one wants to get some backup for one's POV!<br><br><a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html</a><br><a href="http://www.sitepoint.com/article/beware-opening-links-new-window" rel="nofollow">http://www.sitepoint.com/article/beware-opening...</a><br><br>I stopped doing open-in-new window too because I found the target attribute is not allowed in valid XHTML 1.1 or XHTML 1.0 Strict and I was going all uptight about getting my site to validate as XHTML strict. I used to do open-in-new-window too, but then stopped, when I read about the usability issues it creates, much like you said Jake.

As ever, there are 10 billion articles on the web whenever one wants to get some backup for one's POV!

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/990530.html
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/beware-opening…

I stopped doing open-in-new window too because I found the target attribute is not allowed in valid XHTML 1.1 or XHTML 1.0 Strict and I was going all uptight about getting my site to validate as XHTML strict.

]]> By: jpiwowar http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8430 jpiwowar Fri, 07 Aug 2009 06:50:19 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8430 +1 for new tabs. Then again, I have my middle mouse button mapped to force that behavior, so I rarely notice sites that don't already do it that way, unless they're doing something really funky. What I really hate are the sites that break my new-tab preference w/ javascript. So maybe my real answer is, "Don't do anything that limits the user's browsing choices."<br><br>I hear ya on the multi-tab thing. I spend lots of time with 5-6 FF windows open, 10-15 tabs each, and then start wondering why I can't seem to do anything on a machine w/ 4GB of memory. Not that it's all FF, mind you, but kiling the browser sure does free up a ton of memory.<br><br>...and yes, yes, Chrome, etc., but I have to use My Oracle Support on a frequent basis, which rules out Chrome for Mac until it supports Flash :-) +1 for new tabs. Then again, I have my middle mouse button mapped to force that behavior, so I rarely notice sites that don't already do it that way, unless they're doing something really funky. What I really hate are the sites that break my new-tab preference w/ javascript. So maybe my real answer is, “Don't do anything that limits the user's browsing choices.”

I hear ya on the multi-tab thing. I spend lots of time with 5-6 FF windows open, 10-15 tabs each, and then start wondering why I can't seem to do anything on a machine w/ 4GB of memory. Not that it's all FF, mind you, but kiling the browser sure does free up a ton of memory.

…and yes, yes, Chrome, etc., but I have to use My Oracle Support on a frequent basis, which rules out Chrome for Mac until it supports Flash :-)

]]> By: pgkiran http://theappslab.com/2009/08/06/poll-how-should-links-behave/comment-page-1/#comment-8428 pgkiran Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:41:04 +0000 http://theappslab.com/?p=3249#comment-8428 For me always a new tab. but I think that should be standardized browser preference. For me always a new tab. but I think that should be standardized browser preference.

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