File Extension / File Suffix in SEO

[Ladana]

I am about to launch a new website (unfortunately, an NDA keeps me from disclosing any details), and I came across the issue of which file extension to use. The URL-structure is created with URL-rewrites, the files generated include the proper mine-type, so I am basically free to use any file extension I like.
Now, the question is, which file extension would be best from an SEO point of view. Ie. no extension (à la Wikipedia), or using .htm (Windows/Dos-World) or even .html.
I came across only one article that was at least marginably sound. In that article, it was stated, that anything that helps the spiders detect the file-type properly can only improve indexing. So, they suggested to use .htm or .html, but gave no thumbs up or down on using no file extension at all.
What is the concensus of this forum ?

TOM

[naz]

Matt Cutts did a blog about this not long ago: Don’t end your urls with .exe

[Peter (IMC)]

File extensions don't make a difference exceptf for some specific cases like described in that link to Matt's blog.

[advancedmerchant]

For compatibility's sake, I would stick with .htm as there are bound to be some robots, programs, etc, that will have difficulty determining a file's type without the extension. After all, that is what the extension is FOR.

[lspence]

The advantage of not using a file extension, is when you change your pages from html to php, or anything else in the future, you will not have to change your links.

[Peter (IMC)]

Originally Posted by advancedmerchant

For compatibility's sake, I would stick with .htm as there are bound to be some robots, programs, etc, that will have difficulty determining a file's type without the extension. After all, that is what the extension is FOR.

No file extension is no problem. If it would be, wordpress would be a really lousy blog software...

[incrediblehelp]

File extension doesnt make a difference at all, but if you can use the directory structure as in blogs with permalinks and Wikipedia I suggest doing that.