[WEB4LIB] RE: Mailto vs. forms

[Walt_Crawford at notes.rlg.org]

Re Jerry Kuntz' question on using email forms rather than mailto:

I think email forms _should_ be considered best practice.

In addition to Sarah Graham's excellent answer, I'll note another problem
with mailto, for some of us at least:

It brings up the email client preferred by the browser. You can change that
but...well, for example, I don't have an email client as such. RLG uses
Wylbur Mail (part of a telnet connection) and Notes Mail (which has its own
"client"); AT&T Worldnet email uses its own email "client." I avoid
Outlook/Outlook Express for security and sanity reasons (but of course I
also have fulltime Norton scanning...)

When there's an email form and I'm mildly interested in commenting, I'll
comment.

If it's a mailto: and I notice (or if I don't notice and Outlook Express
opens up), I'll only comment if it's really vital (by closing Outlook,
opening Wylbur or Notes, and copying in the mailto: address.).

So, for people like me, mailto: is a way of cutting down feedback. I think
email forms are much friendlier.

[Eureka uses an email form via its Feedback icon. Notes that my personal
Web site, and that of Cites & Insights, don't have clickable mail links at
all will be disregarded as merely pointing out personal incongruity, which
I don't deny.]

Walt Crawford, senior analyst, RLG
Entirely my own opinions, of course.