I've always used target="new" (I've never before seen target="_blank"). Is the alternative a Netscape thing? I don't use either (much) now, though, because I figure it's annoying to be forced into opening new windows. And if your computer's like the one I have at home, it only has enough memory to handle so many open windows at a time.

There's nothing I hate worse than catching myself at one of my own grammatical pet peeves.