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Who are we to force our users to interact with our websites a specific way? The traditional logic I’ve always heard various designers / developers /managers / site owners use to justify browser targeting is the notion that, “It keeps the users on the site.” This logic is short-sighted, pretentious, and obsolete.

It’s a Hardware Option Now

If users want a new window open, they know how to do it. Typically it is accomplished by “middle-clicking” (clicking the scroll wheel itself), but there are several other browser-based shortcuts and hotkeys that provide the same function. Users that like to open up several windows (or tabs), and navigate the www in a multi-windowed interface have probably already come up with their own system for doing so.

Can’t Go Back

Users that like to interact online in a single window traditionally use the “Back” button to return to previously viewed pages. Opening a new window for said users disables their browsing history. They can’t go back because there is nowhere to go back to.

Clutters the Taskbar

Most taskebars are already cluttered enough! Now your forcing another new window into the mess? No thanks!

Not that this is the most pressing issue the development community faces, but I think we owe our users a little more credit. Let’s let them decide if they want to “middle-click” or not.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm and is filed under web development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.