External Linking: Couldn't Tabs/Windows be used instead?

[JonoD]

This is going to sound like an incredibly trivial thing to suggest, but is it possible for links to external pages to be opened into new tabs/windows instead of navigating you away from SSMB?

Whilst I understand that it can just be as simple as right-clicking and 'Opening in new Tab', I can't recall the number of times I've just clicked a link, forgetting it's taking me away from the forum itself and then closing it after viewing and realising that the page I was reading through on SSMB has also been closed with it (meaning I need to re-navigate back to the site and relocate the topic/page I was looking at if I want to continue reading).

In a time when tabbed browsing is becoming more and more common and it's easier to just close a tab instead of hitting back (meaning page reloads and the like), opening up external links in new windows/tabs would make general viewing a lot more efficient and easy.

I'd be interested to hear some other people's thoughts on this as well.

Many thanks!

[-Mark-]

Yeah, this has bugged me for ages to be honest. I usually just go for Ctrl+click, but it's still annoying when I accidentally forget.

Would certainly be nice to have it changed, if possible.

[Tornado]

Er... why not just Middle Click?

[JonoD]

Er... why not just Middle Click?

Apple Magic Mouse... Also bear in mind that many users may also be using things such as touchpads or simply don't have scrollwheels.

[Detective Shadzter]

Er... why not just Middle Click?

I had no idea that clicking the scrollwheel on a link opened it in a new tab O_o

Regardless, I too am in favour of making links here open in new tabs, if it's at all possible.

[bmn]

We're too good to you guys...

[Remy]

Apple Magic Mouse... Also bear in mind that many users may also be using things such as touchpads or simply don't have scrollwheels.

command + click on a mac achieves this too