I have always disliked these "A" tag attributes, but now I can officially declare them deprecated. Since everyone should be using a browser that has tabbed browsing, these attributes are useless. If I want to open a page in a new window, I wheel-click (or "middle-click") the link, and it opens up in a new tab. Viola! And, if I do not want it open in a new tab because I am through browsing that page and want to move on to greener pastures, I give a single left click.
But, there are people out there that litter their pages with TARGET="_blank" and TARGET="_new"; thus forcing a new window open. Thank God for Mozilla Firebird Extensions! With the extension This Window! (whose home page is at churchillrm :: Phoenix Extensions), I can just right-click on links and force them to open in the same window bypassing those unscrupulous web developers who try to dictate to their users which window should open where.
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As a counterpoint, I hate that those browsers have overridden the default behavior I've set for my device. For me the middle click means scroll the window saving me from endless reels of spinning the damn wheel. And for that matter, since when have tabbed windows made sense in a layered window environment?
Nerve? What raw nerve?
AND STOP TOUCHING THAT!
Ahem...helpdesk2? Popups everywhere?
While I agree that most of the popups you get in a day are worthless ads, there are some very popular sites that rely on the popup for use/navigation. And I like them that way. I don't need a tiny popup window transmuted into a whole new tab, that's more annoying than the popup window.
I fear change.
> RE: pop-up's
The Helpdesk2 works just fine in Firebird. 'window.open()' JS calls work so long as I have taken an action to call it i.e. 'onLoad=window.open()' does not work, but if I click somewhere that executes 'window.open()' it's cool. So, pop-up's are handled correctly and consistently, and the helpdesk2 app works in this browser.
> RE: middle mouse button scroll
I agree. I use the middle button to scroll up and down pages quickly, too. When I first started using Firebird (Left Half: First Day with Mozilla Firebird) I bitched about not having middle-click/move mouse up or down/scrolling. People were quick to point out in the comments that I can have my cake and eat it too. So, if I middle click on anywhere that is not a link, I get middle mouse wheel scrolling behavior; if I click on a link, I get open new tab behavior.
I have defaulted the Middle-Click button globally to "Enter" which is a much better usage (IMHO) then the Firefox or any other default and one I frequently use particularly on the location bar (address bar), search bar (Google),
and in dialogs. Also possibly on a selection (mouse vs keyboard shortcut keys).
Dialogs may use Spacebar or Enter for the default, you have to know what you are working with.
You can see my use of mouse buttons in my assignments for default and various software applications.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/mouse.txt
As far as using the middle-button to scroll down in a browser, I don't think that is a good choice. The SPACEBAR is much easier to use allowing you relax your wrists and fingers by not having to keep them on the keyboard or on the mouse.
I like the new feature of Firefox 2.0 that opens target="new" into a new tab. I much prefer tabs than windows, but for those who use IE, I put target="new" into my links that move away from my website. I was always taught that in good website management, links out always open in a new window (tab) and links in-site open in same window.
This way has always been more convenient for me as a viewer of other sites - when I want to navigate away from a page, I just close that window (tab) and stick with the newly-opened one. It's easier than having to click the back button and wait for the previous site reload.