Design Question

[lmf232s]

I have a intranet where its split into departments, kind of.
I have around 20 intranet apps all together.
Now i have a main page where you kind find the menu and little tid bit stuff such as weather, announcements, etc.

My question is from this main page, when you click on a link to
open a app, should i have it open in its own window, or should i use the same window and redirect to it.

Currently i have alittle bit of both, depending on which app you pick.

I was just curious as to what you thoughts were on this, and if you could give me an argument for and against either method.

I like spawning a new window for a new app, but then a user will get multiple windows(alot of my apps, spawn new windows to enter multiple details about what ever it is that they are working on) so you may end up with alot of open ie windows. But by spawing new windows i can control size, as alot of apps dont need to be too large, maybe around 400x400 and sometimes smaller depending on what it is, so it would suck to rediret to a new page where the only thing on the page is like a text box and a button where you enter a new vendors name or something.

Thanks.

[phpnovice]

Since you're talking about an intranet... A reason for keeping the main page accessible (i.e., spawn a new window for each application) is for the pupose of using it as an application director of sorts. If the PC has enough real memory, and the users are comfortable with multiple windows, I see no reason to keep the number of windows to a minimum -- or even to a single window.

IMHO, the only thing you will want to avoid is the possibility of a window getting completely hidden by another windows -- such that the user has to go search for it via task bar, task manager, or Alt-Tab. By the same token, make sure new windows get an appropriate title being displayed in the title bar so that switching to the desired window is easily identifiable.

[Bullschmidt]

<<
Currently i have a little bit of both, depending on which app you pick.
>>

It seems like for consistency you may want to make it all one way (perhaps with the new windows being opened from this main menu page) or the other IMHO. :)