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Originally Posted by Webnauts
The issue here is not only concerning users disabling JavaScript in their browsers. How many do so? 8%?
What about cell phone users? How about sight impaired users? How much percent are they?
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Ahh... what about these users, indeed! If I'm designing a site for cell phone users, there are a completely different set of rules I would need follow. I'm not, however, and I've yet to see such a user recorded in any of my statistics.
As for those with disabilities, this is being very well addressed in the CSS community. (As are a number of other 'media' issues such as print and even the aforementioned cell phones.) Cold as it may sound, however, unless these visitors reach a percentage of the visitors that would give good return, they will be considered in the same way as those who use text based or non-compliant browsers. A minority for whom the work to market to them is not worth the gain from doing so.
I would consider this not to be so in the case of sites which are more informative in nature rather than commercial.
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Originally Posted by Webnauts
Links that don't behave as expected undermine users' understanding of their own system. A link should be a simple hypertext reference that replaces the current page with new content. Users hate unwarranted pop-up windows. When they want the destination to appear in a new page, they can use their browser's "open in new window" command -- assuming, of course, that the link is not a piece of code that interferes with the browser’s standard behavior.
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This makes a great number of assumptions, mostly about user's experience and understanding of the browser they use. Working with users in businesses who use their computer and web browser all the time, I find that very few would know to right click on a link, let alone to open it in a new window or even have considered that they might want to for some reason. Those who do are experienced enough not to be disoriented by something as simple as a 400x300 pixel window with no scrollbars opening to present them with information. Such a window
should surely be well presented, and I personally make a point to always include a 'close this window' link on my windows and recommend the same for others.
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Originally Posted by Webnauts
Users deserve to control their own destiny. Computers that behave consistently empower people by letting them use their own tools and wield them accurately."
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I only see this as true to a certain extent. Yes, users should not be bombarded with popups that won't stop. No, users should never be trapped and forced to close out their browser in order to get away from a page. But these things should be obvious anyway. Javascript should be used, but to enhance rather than detract from a user's experience. It is preferred that other tools be used when possible, but for some things, javascript is the correct tool.