> -- A javascript that creates one of those javascript warning windows;
> -- An intermediate page with the warning that contains a link 
> to the site

You can do both you know... have a href with an onclick.  The onclick does
something like 

"alert("You will be leaving the site, this link will open in a new window");
popup('http://www.google.com'); return false;"

Then the actual href could be something like
"extlink.htm?url=http://www.google.com" which is a dynamic confirmation page

People could set the warning to 'off' too if you have asp or php or even
javascript with a cookie.  Easy to do.

As to the links opening in a new window - I would, to be honest, not know
exactly what to do these days.  I keep giving them target=_blank, because I
think that's what most people want: not leave the site, just follow a
sidestep and go as deep as they want without having difficulties
backtracking.  To be honest, any external link should in my opinion open in
a blank new window, complete with navigation and everything (I hate popups
except when they are usefull or to give 'added detail' to for example
newsitems).  I use only popups when within the popup there is no need for
further navigation (except next-previous) and when the logic next step would
be to close it again.  But I always always do an onload=self.focus(); to
make sure if they click another popup it actually comes forward.  Many sites
don't do this and when people don't close the popup but just blur it or
happen to be inaccurate and don't close the popup but bring the underlying
one to the forground (seemingly having closed the window) the other links
"won't work".

This is just my personal view on all this.  On remark I have is that I have
developed the habit of shift-clicking links to open in a new window.
Because I "don't trust" the other webdesigners to have the same idea as me.
In the end though, I think target=_blank is pretty darn good for external
link.  It makes clear it's a different site, and people don't have to bother
learning about shift-clicking or stuff.  After all, it only "us" who know
this ;).  But all to many times I see customers clicking an external link on
a site, reading it, digging into it and then closing it because they expect
to see the site they were on re-appear.  When it doesn't (they closed the
actual window) they are dissappointed and if they have not seen any other
links before that they are looking forward to inspecting, they will leave it
to that and just stop surfing.  Personal experience, but nevertheless
something many people have confirmed to me.


- Kayjey -
www.fiatcoupe.net

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