up vote 0 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

Most browsers I use block this anyway, so what's the point?

link|improve this question
50% accept rate
feedback

closed as off topic by random♦ Apr 25 '10 at 8:39

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

The interstitial download page is another place where the website owners can put advertisements or other items that they want you to see/read/click on. While this doesn't help you as a user, it gives the website owner another place to get those ad impressions.

link|improve this answer
What's an interstitial download page? – Robert Harvey Dec 21 '09 at 19:18
2  
@Robert Interstitials are web pages that are displayed before an expected content page, often to display advertisements - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_webpage – Sathya♦ Dec 21 '09 at 19:42
and also, come to think of it, this allows you to "count" how many downloads are triggered (somehow)... – Damien Dec 21 '09 at 21:40
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

To spare average users the pain of one more click?

To make sure that clicking on that link won't try to "open" the file instead of downloading it. Especially for novice users you don't know the "right click > save as" feature...

Just my 2 cents...

link|improve this answer
Except that the browser always blocks the automated download (you get the little yellow bar at the top of the browser window, which you have to click on anyway). – Robert Harvey Dec 21 '09 at 19:10
That depends on your browser actually... I don't use IE anymore so I can't really tell what the most common behavior is. – Damien Dec 21 '09 at 19:14
1  
Also, it's possible to whitelist a site so it downloads immediately. Useful if you frequent a specific download site a lot. – ceejayoz Dec 21 '09 at 19:56
2  
IE does tend to be over-aggressive in blocking all popups and file downloads. But that's easily changed in the settings for one or all sites. Firefox tends to be a little smarter in figuring out that a file download is not a "pop up" to be blocked, but instead will take you straight to file save dialog – BBlake Dec 21 '09 at 20:16
feedback

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.