Aug 12, '11 07:30:00AM • Contributed by: mattwhiting
One rather uncomfortable feature of the latter's implementation results from the fact that, when closing the last tab of a window, the window itself closes and takes full-screen mode with it. Not only does this mean that the next time one later goes to a web site, Safari is now in 'windowed mode', but there's some disconcerting Spaces-swapping going on in the background, and Safari loses its dedicated space to switch to quickly when using Mission Control.
Safari really needs an 'always keep the window open' option, but until that's done we need a work-around. I don't want always to leave the last web page I read open, so I came up with this idea instead.
In Safari's General preferences, type 'about:blank' into the 'Homepage' field. Back in the main window, right- (or control-) click on the Toolbar, click Customize, then add the 'Home' icon onto the toolbar wherever you want it.
Now, instead of closing the final tab, just click on 'Home' and you'll get a blank page, still in full-screen view, ready for your next browsing. Not ideal, but it works.
[crarko adds: Obviously a kludge, but sometimes that's what you have to do if you don't care for the standard behavior. I haven't gotten used to full-screen mode all that much yet, either.]
