As you hint in your own response, it's a personal preference (and some browsers will even let you set it). I think it's a good convention that clicking a link r

As you hint in your own response, it's a personal preference (and some browsers will even let you set it). I think it's a good convention that clicking a link replaces the current page, since it was established in the pre-tab/pre-multiple window era and thus follows the principle of least surprise. Besides, you'd be amazed at the number of users that don't know how to close tabs, so it's a bit more resource-friendly to abandon the last page (especially on tablets). That said, I tend to middle-click links so they open in new tabs if I don't want to lose my place (especially here on HN), and I'm happy to have that option. I have no idea what tablet users can do in that situation. On my Android phone, I make heavier use of the back button, history and bookmarks compared to my desktop surfing.