> I personally don't care as I've had no problems with this, 
> but as far as
> usability is concerned, there's a reason why there's a "back" 
> button for the
> browser... and it would be insulting to assume a viewer 
> wouldn't know how to
> do that. 

In my experience, and certainly in a particular project at the moment, it
would be insulting to assume all users *do* know how to use the "back"
button.

It's actually more confusing to open new window, for 
> an external
> link, and the viewer isn't aware of what it's doing, so when they're
> finished with the "new window", more often, they hit the 
> "back" button, only
> to find it doesn't work!

Yes - that's why I've taken to indicating a new window will be opened.
 
> But please don't use the Hotmail setup. I found it very 
> unfriendly, and what
> if I want to go from there, I'm stuck in that Hotmail frame.  
> A better frame
> setup is the AskJeeves.com setup. You're still in the frameset for
> Askjeeves, but it gives you the option to remove the frames, 
> if you decide
> to go from there. IMO, that's a better setup. A viewer then 
> can stay with
> you, or simply remove the frame and go on.

Excellent point - I had forgotten about the Ask Jeeves version in my haste
to post, and that would be a better option.

Thanks, Laurie, for your thoughts.

Niall 

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