<ahref="http://example.org/"onclick=">return!window.open(this.href,'name','properties')"Link Text</a>
The destination URL is provided as the href, not javascript: nor
#. This approach will work for the widest possible
audience.
Search engines have a better idea of what links exist. This is really important for Google.
Link checkers can do their job.
Browsers without multiple window support (or with a popup blocker) can still access the link.
Browsers without JavaScript enabled can still access the link.
Tabbed browsers can still choose to open the link in a new tab (e.g. middle-click).
The links are compatible with offline browsing.
Hovering over the link (or using a screen reader) reports the correct address, including the file's extension.
Users can right-click to save a link target (rather than messing with an extra window).
The link can be copied and pasted into an email, another browser, or a downloader.
No phony jump link is actuated (adding a confusing entry to the history, and scrolling back to the top of the page), nor even required.