Drop-down list not opening new window

New member here. Hope y'all can help with a frustrating issue I have.

SYSTEM INFO:
I'm on an Apple MacBook Pro running OS X v10.7.3 (Safari v5.1.3).

PURPOSE:
I want to create a drop-down list of web sites I like. When the user selects an item, I want the browser to open a new window (or tab) with the URL provided.

THIS WORKS (but, as expected, content is placed in current window):
<form>
<select name="URL" OnChange="location.href=this.form.URL.options[selectedIndex].value">
<option value="" selected><b>Your network info ...</b></option>
<option value="http://www.aws.com/support/faq/software/ip.asp">Your IP address</option>
<option value="http://www.beelinebandwidthtest.com/">Your bandwidth speed (option 1)</option>
<option value="http://reviews.cnet.com/Bandwidth_meter/7004-7254_7-0.html">Your bandwidth speed (option 2)</option>
<option value="http://www.spamhaus.org/lookup.lasso">Spamhaus IP check</option>
</select>
</form>


BUT THIS DOESN'T WORK … WHY NOT? Expecting a new window (or tab) to be created.:
<form>
<select name="URL" OnChange="window.open(this.form.URL.options[selectedIndex].value)">
<option value="" selected><b>Your network info ...</b></option>
<option value="http://www.aws.com/support/faq/software/ip.asp">Your IP address</option>
<option value="http://www.beelinebandwidthtest.com/">Your bandwidth speed (option 1)</option>
<option value="http://reviews.cnet.com/Bandwidth_meter/7004-7254_7-0.html">Your bandwidth speed (option 2)</option>
<option value="http://www.spamhaus.org/lookup.lasso">Spamhaus IP check</option>
</select>
</form>


FYI … INTERESTINGLY, THE "window.open" CODE *DOES* WORK FOR A BUTTON. HMMMM.
<form>
<input type="button" value="Open Window" onclick="window.open('http://www.about.com')">
</form>


Anyone have a suggestion on what I'm doing wrong with the <SELECT OnChange=window.open()> event?

-- Udee

Your code does work on other clients. Try simplifying it to window.open( this.value )

per definition window.open requires an URL and a window name. eg.:
window.open('http://www.google.com/', 'NewWindow');

Maybe Apple for OSx is very strict here.

Or maybe you have checked "Block Extra Windows" under settings

You only have to open the popup when option value is not empty to exclude the first option.

<select name="URL" onchange="if (this.value) window.open(this.value, '_blank');">

I've been scouring the web for days looking for a javascript dom example just like this. I've seen so many, but I tested this one and it is (almost) perfect!

It's almost perfect for me because I really don't want my form to submit onchange. How do I implement a submit button, instead?

Is this what you needed?
<form>
<select name="URL">
<option value="">Your network info ...</option>
<option value="http://www.aws.com/support/faq/software/ip.asp">Your IP address</option>
<option value="http://www.beelinebandwidthtest.com/">Your bandwidth speed (option 1)</option>
<option value="http://reviews.cnet.com/Bandwidth_meter/7004-7254_7-0.html">Your bandwidth speed (option 2)</option>
<option value="http://www.spamhaus.org/lookup.lasso">Spamhaus IP check</option>
</select>
<input type="button" value="Open Window" onclick="if (this.form.URL.value) window.open(this.form.URL.value);" />
</form>