4
votes
Suggestion
My only request thus far is that if I click on a post, I would prefer it to open in a new tab. If that's just me, please ignore.
My only request thus far is that if I click on a post, I would prefer it to open in a new tab. If that's just me, please ignore.
I'm no web developer, but as I understand it, one of the principles of good web design is to give the choice to the user rather than forcing one on them. Forcing a new tab when clicking on a post removes that choice from the users. You can always right click + open in a new tab or ctrl + click. Another option may be for them include opening posts in a new tab as an account setting that you can activate if you so choose.
This is correct, usually the only time it's best for the site to force a new tab is when the link is part of a process that would be interrupted if the user clicked the link. For example, on the registration page, the links to the Terms and Privacy Policy open in new tabs, so the user doesn't lose anything they've already entered in the form when they click to read them.
It's definitely a reasonable user preference though. @Reasonable_Doubt should it apply only to external links (articles and such on link topics), or would you also expect to see text topics open in a new tab, and/or links to comments?
It could be a separate button available to users when browsing. RES has a similar feature, where I can click on the actual link to navigate to the linked content in the same tab, or I can click a separate button to open the content in a new tab. That way all users have the option at all times without having to mess with any settings.
I like the way it works on Reddit. I understand the concept that as a design it shouldn't be forced on the user. I can right-click, I'm just not used to it.
So far it's no problem to tab back after opening a new link or an internal topic. It seems that when things get bigger/busier here, it might become easy to lose your original place on Tildes after spending time in a link or topic.
I internet exclusively on a laptop with a touch-pad and trackpoint, so I haven't found a one-click way to navigate into a different tab. I feel there are probably an extraordinarily high number of folks currently using Tildes who are familiar with keyboard shortcuts that the average layperson (computer-savvy or not) is not using, or are using a mouse.
Using my scroll wheel to click does that.
Ctrl-click on PC, Cmd-click on Mac does the same.
And there will likely be an option to choose between opening links in the same window or in a new one eventually, it's just not implemented yet.
I'm not using a mouse. I can two-click my way into another tab, I'm just used to it only taking one click. ~lazy