[gojomo]

A meta-suggestion: avoid lengthy discussions about such issues. Pick one option quickly, then run experiments to test whether the alternative improves your relevant metrics. Some issues are too small to invest time in trying to find 'consensus' without hard data.

On the issue directly: the web default is to open links in the same window. Opening new windows is in Jakob Nielsen's list of the top ten very worst web design mistakes†. (It's #9 as of his 2007 update.) So skip the discussion, go with that, and later run some tests comparing stay-in-page with open-new-window on whatever metric is important to you. (Page views? Non-annoyed users? Return visits? etc.)

† http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9605.html

[SwellJoe]

Exactly. Spending more than five seconds on this (before you have data), and even worse, involving more than one person, is a recipe for fail.

People just love to argue about silly shit like this.

Homework assignment for everyone who felt compelled to chime in with their well-reasoned opinions:

http://www.bikeshed.com/