Opera Browser

[Iceblink]

Does anyone else use this browser exclusively?

When netscape was taken over and started to suck, I switched to msie, which was better than netscape currently is but worse than netscape used to be.

I read an article earlier this year about Opera (I don't remember where), and I decided to try it out.

I haven't looked back. I freakin' love this program. It might be the best browser I've ever used.

On very, very rare occasions, a site has some ie-exclusive code that doesn't work well with opera, so I have to view it with ie... but, for the most part, I have made the switch completely. I especially love the "mouse gestures" and find myself trying to use them when I am using a different browser.

I just read an article about how netscape might be going kaput, so I started wondering again...

I keep thinking I'm the only one who uses it though.

Am I?

If you've used it, what do you think?

[Mad_Bishop]

I'm with you...Opera has a smaller footprint, better controls, and user feel. Sometimes Java or some weird JavaScript causes it to burp, but I'd say that i use opera 95% of the time, and i wouldn't look back. (actually I just had to DL IE6 just to het the new OE, but I don't plan on using it except in those odd times)

Do you run it so it identifies itself as Opera or something else? I find it hiccups less if you set it so that it id's itself as IE.

[Iceblink]

Originally posted by Mad_Bishop
I'm with you...Opera has a smaller footprint, better controls, and user feel. Sometimes Java or some weird JavaScript causes it to burp, but I'd say that i use opera 95% of the time, and i wouldn't look back. (actually I just had to DL IE6 just to het the new OE, but I don't plan on using it except in those odd times)

Do you run it so it identifies itself as Opera or something else? I find it hiccups less if you set it so that it id's itself as IE.

Wow. Two weeks before I find another Opera user!

I used to run it iding as IE, but after reading that article, I changed it.

The article said that the numbers for opera users could be off, as some sites misidentify it as ie. However, I knew that it was a matter of choice, so I decided to id as Opera. I haven't really run into any real problems.

I've been testing it for over a week now, and I haven't run into any troubles that I hadn't seen before.

Lately, I've had to use ie a couple times. I am trying to get a teaching position. The school districts are using an online application procedure. It used to work with Opera just fine, but I've been having trouble lately (not due to id issues), but it just stopped working properly.

What's the story though? Are people afraid to try it out? I seriously can't imagine anyone trying it and not liking it.

[Foosinho]

I've never used Opera.

I use MyIE2 (a tabbed browser based on IE) at home, and just started using Mozilla at work. Mozilla is pretty darn cool, but not as slick at tabbing as MyIE2.

Does Opera support tabbed browsers? I often have 5+ windows open, and hate dealing with 5+ instances of the browser...

[Dante]

Tabbed browsing is the best thing since sliced bread.

I used Chimera and Safari at home, both have tabbed browsing. At work I have to use IE because the morons in systems insist it's the only browser that we should be using. They erased Mozilla from my computer.

I've never really been interested in Opera because I don't want to pay for a browser. I understand that there's a free browser, but I've heard it has ads and not as many features. Is that true?

[Mad_Bishop]

yes, opera is a tabbed browser, and that's one of it's better features, esp. when combined with the mouse gestures (i.e., all you have to do to switch between tabs is hold right mouse button, and roll your mouse wheel (it even pops up a nifty little menu which shows you the titles of the pages you're shifting to in case you're too lazy to look down to the tabs or up to the title bar.

Opera has a free version, which does have an annoying little window (but that's it, no pop-ups or lessoned features). I have to admit my dishonesty and say that I downloaded a serial generator for it at first, but once I got in good with the browser and realized how great it was, I paid the thirty bucks or whatever. it was well worth it.

[Pibe#10]

resurected threat because new version is out: Opera 9

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/001892.html

I used to hate Opera, but now I'm liking it, I've been a FF user for a while now, but Opera 9 has some nice new features that rival FF.

Anybody using it? Opinions?

[Oscar]

It's the only browser I've been using for a while now.

Every time I've tried another to see if I might like it better, they just dissapoint in comparison.

[JeffS]

I've never used Opera.

I use MyIE2 (a tabbed browser based on IE) at home, and just started using Mozilla at work. Mozilla is pretty darn cool, but not as slick at tabbing as MyIE2.

Does Opera support tabbed browsers? I often have 5+ windows open, and hate dealing with 5+ instances of the browser...

Yes, Opera has tabbed browsing, as well as built in pop blocking, and email, and RSS, and a host of other goodies.

Opera is also fast. In my experience with browsers, which includes:
IE - all versions
Mozilla
Firefox
Ephiphay
Konqueror
SeeMonkey (the new version of the full Mozilla suite)
and of course Opera
... Opera is the most full featured and the the fastest, and has the smallest footprint.

Thus, I think Opera is simply awesome.

And since last year, Opera is now free for the regular desktop browser. Opera derives it's revenue from the built in Google search box (get some of Google's link revenue, just like Firefox does), as well as charging for an Enterprise version, and a Cell Phone/PDA version.

Give it a try. It's a free download. There's nothing to lose. And I'm convinced you'll love it.

[JeffS]

BTW - I just now did the upgrade to the freshly release Opera 9.

In a word ... spectacular.

I've been using Opera since 7, then 8.

It keeps getting better - faster, lighter footprint, better features (without bloat), and looks great (and it's fully skinable).

I also think that Opera is an excellent example of not only being a great browser, but a great example of how to write great software in general.

Opera manages to be fast, secure, great looking, bug-free, stable, full featured, and fun to use, all at the same time. There is a lot of software out there that truly sucks (like IE), but Opera shows the world how to put out great software, and that it can be done.

And no, I don't work for Opera. ;)

I just like it a lot, simply because it is a great browser, and since so much other software out there (both proprietary and open source) often dissappoints me. But Opera manages to exceed my exectations.

[Kryptonite]

Dumb Opera question:

Did I read somewhere that the paid (ad-free) version of Opera was done away with and there's only one version now?

[JeffS]

Dumb Opera question:

Did I read somewhere that the paid (ad-free) version of Opera was done away with and there's only one version now?

The desktop version is now 100% free, without ads.

Opera gets revenue from the embedded Google search box, when the user then clicks on Google's revenue generating per click links, with Opera getting a certain percentage.

Give it a try. :)

http://www.opera.com/

[Pibe#10]

The desktop version is now 100% free, without ads.


that was one of the reasons why I hated using it, the ads........but yea I have to agree, its pretty nice. I have been using it today (got it this morning) and I like it......

[Grouchy]

I have been a strong Opera supporter since v 6.01, even paid for it. I have been using 9.0 for a couple of days now and don't have any problems with it. It now works with blogger (big F'n yay) and a couple of other sites that seemed to cause it problems, occasionally.

It is one of my recommended pieces of software and I'll continue to recommend it over IE and Firefox.

[Grouchy]

For those Opera users that remember filter.ini from the 6.01 days, the new version of Opera (9) has urlfilter.ini - where all the data for Tools > Advanced > Blocked Content and (right click) > Block Content go.

The urlfilter.ini in the attached .zip file contains a list someone generated to block ads and such. Simply download it, shut down Opera, move urlfilter.ini to your profile folder (most cases it's Documents and Settings/(user)/Application Data/Opera/profile under Windows).