Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

http://www.wired.com/news/technology...w=wn_tophead_2

[Opinion]
I don't think Opera will ever overtake Firefox as a browser.
I used it a few times and I thought it was a good browser but had a terrible UI.
But anyway, they do adhere to Web Standards and that has to be a good thing, I'd be quite happy if Opera users had 20% of the market, IE had 5% and Firefox had 70%.
[/Opinion]

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Because its full of adverts. Who's going to choose to look at more adverts on the net?

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Installing Opera now :)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

You have to pay to get rid of the adverts?

Get stuffed, I'm not paying anything for a browser when I have IE.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

You should rephrase that to:
"Get stuffed, I'm not paying anything for a browser when I have Mozilla Firefox which had better security and more features than crappy IE"

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Thats what I was thinking.......it doesn't even copy my bookmarks and homepage when I install it :td:

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

No, because I say stuff crappy FireFox aswell.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Hey! IE isn't crappy.......it's just 'differently abled' :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

In your opinion, but you're obviously an M$ fanboy (from your sig)...

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Actually, I'm an M$ hateboy :rolleyes:

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

So, which browser would you recommend then eh?

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Well that is a bit of a stupid question :rolleyes:

IE, but that doesn't mean I'm an M$ fanboy does it?

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

I'd back Opera all the way. I've been using it for a few years now and can't see past it.

I only use Firefox for sites like Gmail which are very picky about how they run. Seeing the ads take up a very small amount of the screen I can live with it.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

why is it a 'stupid' question - why is any question 'stupid' ?

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

It was a stupid question because he already knows what browser I'm going to say.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

There's no such thing as a stupid question, but people can sure ask them in a stupid way :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Well yes it does, considering you have a sig promoting IE.
Here's a hint, you have a big blue E in that image...

Give it 6 months and you'll be in the minority of people who are promoting IE against the behemoths that are Mozilla and Opera.

Oh, you need more proof?
Well how about this?
[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]
www.spreadfirefox.com

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Round 2 of the browser wars.
You haven't seen this since 1998... :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Richard, you don't get it. I like IE as it WORKS, other browsers don't work for me. I'm NOT (repeat) NOT an M$ fanboy for the following reasons:

Prices of there software is far too high
Loads of problems with there operating system software

OK?

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

grasshopper - never assume the answer you will receive for your question :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

So why support M$ by using their software?
Why not hit 'em where it hurts by using a better browser?

BTW - I've yet to come across a website which doesn't work in Firefox and that includes my online banking with Natwest. :)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

*sighs* :erm:

I just said in my last post:

They don't work well for me.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Just installed Maxthon as well--a very fast browser :erm: :tu: :)
But I still prefer IE as I know how to customize the toolbar myself with my own designs and I can customize the buttons with Y'z toolbar :)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Yeah, because every web developer n00b codes for IE by dragging and dropping in Dreamweaver and this suits the n00bs who use these sites.
Even in work, I write ASP.NET code but if it doesn't work in Firefox I bin it.
Why? because HTML is a standard, and every browser should render it in exactly the same way.

Why do you think I created a Mobile version of the UT Clan website?
If that was done M$ style, it would take half an hour to load...without the CSS it looks lovely on a mobile phone, and it is quite readable on any device, desktop computers, PDAs, etc...

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

I'm not talking about the websites, I'm talking about the software it's self.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Ladies.........calm down plz :Peaceman:

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Just trying Avant Browser, very fast, has tabbed browsing and pop-up blocker and also has a pretty decent GUI :D

EDIT: Also has an ad block built-in, just not turned on. Ad free CF! :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Wooohooo, :) at least somebody else on this forum that recognises Maxthon/MyIE2 for what it's worth. (BTW technically it's not a complete browser as it's a wrapper for IE)

It had tabbed browsing, mouse gestures, built in ad blocker, loads of plugins, proxy list setups,all sorts of great features before Firefox.

Seriously though, Browsers are one of those emotive subjects, like Politics, becareful discussing them,as the situation can easily become inflamed.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Avant Browser is NOT a browser, it's just an IE skin.
__________________

Opera used to be great, but now it's too bloated and the user interface is atrocious.

And the ads DO put people off, everyone is fed up with ads as it is.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Excuse me while I regurgitate last night's dinner...

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Have one of these. :D

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

It has two lines of ads. They are easy to ignore (and certainly less obtrusive than the ads on most sites - including this one).

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

...but no ads are better..ask the OSS community. ;)
www.mozilla.org

Boot note:
Articles like this make me feel all warm and fuzzy:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.02/firefox.html

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

This site has ads??

I payed for NIS partly for the ad blocking capabilities, I want less ad's on my screen not more. :( To be honest I cant get on with other browsers, I like IE as it just works. I don't have a problem with security, and I don;t have to spend ages learning where everything is again.

IE for me :)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

I know that, but at least it has a pop-up blocker, a DECENT skin, and an ad blocker.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

I don't know what you're all arguing about when we all know that Lynx is the best browser anyway.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

RichardM partaking in yet another browser argument, who'd have though it? ;) I'm not even going to bother, people have said it before but I'll reiterate it, if you don't like IE, fine, don't use it but don't keep constantly going on and on like an old woman about how great firefox is (and vice versa), it's personal preference and calling someone an "M$ fanboy" just because they prefer IE is a bit sad.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

I presume the upcoming release of Opera will generate some more discussion - that it will read back to you :p:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4208751.stm

:)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Well said, it is all down to personal preference from a users point of view. Richard's point is also true though. The standards should be exactly that, the browser(s) should interperet the code the same.

... and this is personal preference and familiararity in action. If you had been using a.n.other browser for as long as IE, you would figure out how to do similar things within it.

This isn't any different to buying a car, we all have a personal preference to how big/small, fast/slow, etc. I don't agree with personal digs, just because of their preference. The all do the same job, some better than others.

The problem with Microsoft is not the products they build, but the methods they employ to "sell" them too you. Their domination of the software market has been largely based on their domination of the Operating System that most of us use, it's been a fantastic vehicle and platform for them to push more of their products. It's only been relatively recently that more people have become aware of the alternatives.

Lets not fight each other, we're human and fickle, keep it calm please :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Why, thank you :D

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Just noticed this thread and as an avid Opera user just couldn't let it go without a few comments. Apologies for not formatting this reply to credit each postee.

Opera is a very good browser. It's download is 3.4MB compared to 4.7MB for FF and don't forget this includes many of the facilities that require 'extensions' in FF, such as tabbed browsing and mouse gestures.

..........it was a good browser but had a terrible UI. OK the default UI is not nice but a simple click on tools>skins downloads and installs new UI's in an instant. There are hundreds of them and install themselves completely automatically.

Because its full of adverts. Who's going to choose to look at more adverts on the net?
You have to pay to get rid of the adverts?
Get stuffed, I'm not paying anything for a browser when I have IE.

The advert panel is small - about the same depth as an icon or menu bar and around 2/3 the width of the screen. Most web sites contain ads and until I registered my copy I was totally unaware of the ads anyway as they were so unobtrusive. Anyway how much did your M$ OS cost you ? IE ain't free and by the time you've strapped it down to prevent intrusions you might as well install a secure browser !

.......it doesn't even copy my bookmarks and homepage when I install it

A simple import of your bookmarks is all it takes and re-assigning a homepage is a doddle.

- I've yet to come across a website which doesn't work in Firefox and that includes my online banking with Natwest Like wise Opera.

Operas UI is almost infinitely user adjustable, my top bar contains just one row - the navigation icons together with the address panel. Tabs only appear with more than one window open ! The progress bar likewise only appears when loading sites. One click and my bookmarks, history, download and mail tabs appear (oh, did I forget to mention, Opera comes with its own integrated mail client included in the standard download - this checks my mail on opening and thereafter at intervals of my choosing. And its more secure than OE as it doesn't automatically open attachments or run mal-code). It runs all my banking sites, the only thing it won't do is export pics to eBay from your own hard drive - this uses an ActiveX component I believe and for obvious reasons Opera won't run ActiveX. Apart from this I have yet to find a site which doesn't work well using Opera.

One aspect I really love is when doing research on the web and want to copy info from sites, Opera has a 'copy text' (right click menu) facility which does just what it says and leaves any page styles or formatting behind. I found using other browsers using copy>paste imports lots of hidden page formatting off the web page which buggers up your text management in the word processor app. The same is true of copying pics - I just right click 'copy image' and paste into my document (I use Open Office Writer). No fuss, no struggling to delete web page formats. Oh and of course it is fast and mouse gestures make it even faster. It has a password manager built in which securely stores all web site log-ins - one move of the mouse and your in ! How about zoom in / out with the scroll wheel, spoofing (for poor or limited browser sites), hotclicking (selected text options) and data / cookie controls all in the standard download.

I have tried FF many times but never got further than installing it - I just couldn't get extensions to work (my bad probably), couldn't find a decent skin and didn't want to download another mail client or go back to OE. I'm sure FF is good if not great but I see no reason to change from Opera / M2.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

On the version that I've got, it's quite big and very noticable(sp?).

I thought that FF was supposed to be just a browser, for those who were happy with whatever email client.

That's the way that it should be, you're own preference and choice.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

How about the fact that Opera does everything I want in one, easily downloadable and small package?

How about the superior platform support in Opera? Firefox is available for the Mac, PC and various flavours of Unix. Opera is available for all those, and Windows based PDAs, Windows based Smartphones and all Symbian based phones. On the Sony Ericsson range it is free (no ads).

How about the fact that Opera can view Wap or HTML sites on all platforms, and can, if necessary, intelligently reformat a site to fit on a small screen (ideal for PDAs and phones - infact it does a good job with Cableforum).

To match it's functionality with Firefox requires at least two downloads (Firefox and Thunderbird) and a few extensions as well..

That, combined with the fact it's smaller than Firefox (when combined with Thunderbird and extensions).

The mail client is integrated within opera for more efficiently than Thunderbird integrates with Firefox (you view it as a tab).

Still, as the old saying goes, each to their own. Any competition against IE is good (not that I am saying IE is bad, just that competition means that it forces all browser vendors to look at enhancing their products).

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

You could view the mail window in a tab in Mozilla Suite by typing something like "chrome://mail/messenger.xul" but I don't know how to do it with FF/Thunderbird.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Ok.. I wasn't actually having a go.

BTW, I don't get ads on this site either. Not because I have configured Zone Alarm to block ads, but because I recently donated money.

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

On the flip side of the coin, one of my peeves with Opera is the integrated mail client (something that also originally discouraged my use of Mozilla and Netscape). Mail and WWW usage just aren't closely associated enough in my browsing habits to justify having the two apps tied together and in a multitasking OS there just isn't the need for it. Again, just my opinion :)

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Which reminds me of the philosophy student who received an exam paper with, on it, the single question, "Is this a question?" To this he wrote, "If this is an answer."

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

You have two choices of how ads are displayed in Opera, one does display a box panel which might be more obtrusive than the second which is as I said about 2/3 the width of the UI and about one iconbar deep.


I prefer my mail client integrated, that way I'm not waiting for another app to open to view mail or waiting for my browser to open when clicking a link in a mail.


I'm a bit disappointed this forum seems obssessed with FF with very few willing to investigate what is a ground breaking browser like Opera. I think this is the only ever thread I've seen started here concerning Opera.

Even the BBC have seen fit to mention it !

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Oh look - it's the Firefox/IE/Opera/etc is better wars ... again ..... :zzz:

Re: Opera, the Forgotten Browser
 

Hi
just a quick comment ive got ie opera fire fox i use ff every day and when im not using it i use opera the adds wear anoying but i registerd opera i think its a very good browser litle bloated takes a bit setting up to get how illike it
but every one has their favorits and you are free to use what you like idont criticize ie even i dont like it i just use another browser :) :tu: