I think unrequested popups and popunders are the most annoying thing that you can find online.

They are right up there with those companies that buy popular domain names that expire and have no content or offensive content.

I did this poll, because I'm interested in other webmasters' opinions.

I HATE POP UPS. ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL.

I only use popups for "help" pages or to provide more info when a link is clicked. I hate forced/advertising/spam popups...

I think popups can be really handy for stuff instead of opening a new browser window.

It's just the unsolicited ones that p*** me off.

Pop-ups are evil. Use them and you will go to hell!

i use popups but very minimal.

only 1 in the site as far as possible and use cookies to track their popup. so that they do not annoy the visitor.

I voted strictly by gut reaction, but after reading the other posts, I realized an explation is in order. I hate popups and popunders when used for advertising purposes. They've got to be the most annoying things in the universe!!

However, if they are used properly on a site (and with warning!), they can be very helpful.

Using popups to open a small window for viewing selected images, for dictionary-type explanations and definitions, etc. is a great idea. It certainly makes it a lot easier than trying to find your place again when you return to the original page after you've been forwarded to another site or page.

But all this nonsense with closing one popup window opens another and another and another, then you try to leave the site and get another 3 or so popunder windows - that should be illegal!!!!!

Syren

Originally posted by SyrenSong
But all this nonsense with closing one popup window opens another and another and another, then you try to leave the site and get another 3 or so popunder windows - that should be illegal!!!!!

Well, there's some hope on the horizon. As go the adult sites, so go the non-adult sites a few months later. Currently, using a lot of popups/popunders will get you kicked out of AVS programs and banned from the good link lists. You'll always have malcontents who couldn't give a crap, but hopefully you'll see less X10 and Classmates ads in the future.

I dont mind popunder. Dont like popup.

Problem that popups now pose to web masters/designers is no longer a bad rep and a question of if they should or shouldnt be used. Reason I say this, is I feel there is no longer an option for me to present any form of content to my visitors in the form of a pop up at all.

Thing is, they have been used and abused by the adult sites to such a degree, that many surfers use software to prevent them. Thus, wether the pop up is for a good reson or not, we almost cant use them at all now, as there is a very real chance, and a good one at that, that if we try to impliment them at all, the visitor isnt going to see the content we present in the pop up at all.

Its almost desided for us, thanx mostly to the XXX sites.

I have been useing Crazy Browser for about a year now. Its a skin/mod over IE that not only tabs multiple windows like NS7, but I have never had it not block a pop up....ever.

Originally posted by SyrenSong
But all this nonsense with closing one popup window opens another and another and another, then you try to leave the site and get another 3 or so popunder windows - that should be illegal!!!!!

Syren

Yes, that is the most horrible thing....and I can't stand it when they popup and interrupt what you are reading, etc. and you lose your place...and then get frustrated and have to yell at the kids who in turn take it out on the cat....and it's just a spiraling mess from there. They shouldn't be there!


Some one is probably serving time somewhere because of them.

I HATE FU**** POPUP :P

Auto popups and popunders: HATE THEM!!!

I don't use them, and I absolutely hate when other sites use them.

Manual popups, though, are a different story. I do use manual pop-open windows from time to time (i.e. for photo galleries, or if using frameset). That option isn't listed in the poll.

Manual popups, though, are a different story. I do use manual pop-open windows from time to time

Same to me. I hate them, but for explanation they are fine. But usually I still try to hint that clicking that link will open a popup. For two reasons:

1.) People won't get annoyed. They know a popup is popping up and
2.) for people that block popups. It kind'a looks stupid if you click a link and nothing happens, because the user uses a popup blocker. So he knows why the link doesn't work.

I use them only for extra info and people have to actually click them.
I do hate unwanted popups and popunders, especially when they hang up on loading and just stop everything.

Not only do i now hate popups, When i was using them i got MAAADD complaints about them, they just annoy people..

I only use a pop up window when it's either a help file or a picture - something that the user selects - NOT an unsolicited pop up or pop under. Never!

Hi,

I despise pop-up ads too, and I would never use them on my website. They tend to be rather ineffective in targeting users, and even when they are targeted towards a specific audience, these users tend to close them before they really get a chance to see what's inside. The only pop-up ads that I like are the Orbitz ones that I get on ESPN.com. They usually come with an amusing Flash mini-game.

If you hate pop-ups, make sure you use Mozilla! If you find Mozilla too much of a resource-sucker (as I do), then make sure download the new Google toolbar. A new version has been released with a pop-up killing feature.

Conker

Well, I'm glad that the majority here seem to agree that popups suck. What amazes me is how many websites use them. I have use a popup blocker, but if at any point, I disable it.. I start getting popups constantly.

RONG!! INCORRECT!! HOLD IT!!

No, my friends, pop/up/unders are not the most annoying thing on the web. Flash-ads or shoskeles are the worst. If I may, direct your attention to http://www.webmaster-talk.com/showth...&threadid=4853


Silly people.. Silly adds.. Silly sites... Nothing to do!

Devin