Opera

[CrazyMike]

I just d/l Opera 7.5 a few days ago because I could not get java to work on IE6 under WinXP. (Tried everything) Opera ROCKS! Does anyone have any experience with it? Any down side to it? I can't think of a reason not to make this my browser of choice. What are some things a new Opera user can do to get the most out of the browser (ie security, speed, ease of use)

[richard_cocks]

It's slow, has an advert bar.
Other than that, I can't think of too much which isn't down to particular preference.

[Rugor]

In my experience it's faster than IE.

The ad-bar is mildly annoying but I'd take it over IE any day.

[richard_cocks]

Personally I find IE is fastest out of opera/firefox/IE, but there ya go.

And what exactly do you find wrong with IE?

[AdamST]

IE doesnt have a built in pop up blocker, and ALL the addware and spyware gets through.

[Cpl_Squirrel]

Been using and loving opera for about 6 years now. Rather than waste my breath, I'll point you to this site: :)

http://tntluoma.com/opera/lover/7/01/

P.S. The site is meant as a 30-day tutorial...just go on to days 2-30 if you are ready for that much info.

[Rugor]

Oddly enough I currently use Mozilla rather than Opera, though I have used Opera in the past.

Things I don't like about IE:

The interface looks childish
No tabbed browsing
New windows take focus when they open
No integrated popup blocker

In short I find it gets in the way, and makes my browsing experience more work and less pleasurable.

[richard_cocks]

that site's mozilla vs opera comparison is WAY off the mark, they compare the "minimalist" views of each, they completely miss the fact that with mozilla you can have the URL bar and some buttons without using more space by having them on the same line as file/etc whilst opera cannot do that.

They also think that opera is better because it has more "search sites" such as heavily advertised sponsored search links to amazon/ebay/AllTheWeb/"Super search".

And at the end of the day they keep going back to saying how opera is faster for getting stuff done which is also a load of twaddle.

And when it comes to not using IE, Rugor just spelled it out, although I disagree with the interface looking childish, you can customise IE to look perfectly fine, although I still use IE5 so that might have something to do with it.

Given I don't use tabs I stick to IE, but accept there are people who want tabbed browsing. But the way IE handles new windows is enough to make me use firefox from time to time anyway, you have new windows opened in background or foreground with firefox, and if you want they'll open maxmized (actually maximized) which is a lot better I find for forum browsing.

Opera is slow, ugly and wastes a lot of screen space by not allowing the URL bar to overlap the file menu and also last time I used it, FORCED tabbed browsing, which I found rediculous.

The other reason to use mozilla over opera is that it's "browsing engine" is a LOT more compliant, and as gecko in general is getting more popular that will only improve.

Also, opera lacks a text resizer, it has a (in my optinion moronic) "zoom" feature which tries to re-scale the images and borders etc in scale, so you just get an unreadable mess instead of a smaller text sizes. Mozilla handles resizing the same way IE does.

And to quote the website

Very often I find that people who use Internet Explorer have gotten used to putting up with all sorts of things that they assume (incorrectly) that they cannot change. They think that they have to accept popup windows. They think they have to accept constant security patches — and you’d be amazed how many people have no idea how many security patches they are missing! They think they have to accept a browser that controls what they can do and what they can’t do. They think that the web is a lot slower than it really is, because many times what is really slowing them down isn’t the web, it’s IE.


Very often people who jump ship from IE don't realise they DON'T have to even install a third party blocker to stop pop-ups, they don't realise they can configure IE to block a lot of what they're used to, they don't realise that they can stop malware coming anywhere near their PC by changing a few settings, instead they just insult IE's "slowness" (and from my experience IE is as quick as anything, perhaps the quickest).

And then it comes down to the fact that opera COSTS MONEY. Without paying for it, you get a banner ad, and there is no way I'll switch to a browser which uses up a whole chunk of space on an advert when I can have 2 other browsers which I consider better for free.

IE lacks a couple of features, but even mozilla doesn't have the features that IE has. In no other browser I've found but IE can you control whether jscript/other stuff is on/off by a list of sites. When firefox gets that feature I'm swapping, but I'm still staying way clear of opera, it just doesn't cut it.

[Cpl_Squirrel]

Now all you have to do is rip up pages 2-30. :) The first page is probably the least informative...many of the rest show how customizable the browser is (down to editing config files), which is what sells me.

[G]

The advert bar can be removed by buying Opera – it is that simple.

The reason why IE has not been developed so aggressively as other browsers is its market share. There is no incentive to improve it. Only with the annoying pop–ups and security vulnerabilities etc has M$ decided to add additional features.

I use IE as infrequently as possible. As Roboform does not support Opera yet direct password and username access is a breeze with Roboform (the nuts). This is the only reason I use IE and the fact that Windows cannot be properly updated without it.

Opera rocks. I bought it and it is the only browser I use except when I have to use IE with Roboform of course.

There may be faster browsers about but unless users are prepared to buy and support the developers of a robust and feature full browser like Opera then IE will always dominate and security problems and the negative ramifications will ensue.

Moreover, once I find a great solution I spend my time on more pressing matters. Moving from one browser to the next is not my idea of fun. I prefer to test other types of software for developers for free instead. That is my kind of fun.

[richard_cocks]

But if you pay to remove the advert bar, it's not free, Mozilla/firefox is. Why pay money for something you can get better for free?

Mozilla is robust and heavily supported, by people's time and effort, rather than money donations.

[fishybawb]

Originally posted by richard_cocks
But if you pay to remove the advert bar, it's not free, Mozilla/firefox is. Why pay money for something you can get better for free?

Mozilla is robust and heavily supported, by people's time and effort, rather than money donations.

Well said sir :cool:

[Plaster]

Originally posted by richard_cocks
Why pay money for something you can get better for free?


Because people who prefer Opera don't feel Mozilla is better. You're projecting your opinions as facts.

BTW, he wasn't saying Opera is free. He said he found a great solution he can use and can now spend time testing software for free. In other words, he found his browser of choice, he doesn't need to look anymore.

[G]

Plaster thanks for the support. You have obviously, unlike some, mastered English comprehension.

Fish, do not try pulling any **** again with me. You tried this in the recent past so behave yourself and everything will remain status quo ante.

[Strawbs]

Opera has been my browser of choice for quite some time now! IE security has improved much with the SP2-RC1 update ..but tabbed browsing keeps me loyal (most of the time).

this is the second forum today where I've discussed this very subject. :x

[G]

Who suggested Opera to you Swabs many moons ago?

Have you tried V7.5 yet? I am using it and like it a lot.

[Strawbs]

Originally posted by G
Who suggested Opera to you Swabs many moons ago?

Have you tried V7.5 yet? I am using it and like it a lot. That would be you G. :t

I have 7.5 Beta installed but haven't had time to run it through the mill yet! Is the final released already?

edit: scratch that last q, I see it is and I'm d\l'ing as we type!

[G]

:D

It’s available. The final release of V7.5 is what I’m using now.

http://www.opera.com/

The only way to browse. Now that will get up some peoples backs (just messing about.) :D

[Strawbs]

I have a ton of skins to back up, I'm outta here!

:t

[Cpl_Squirrel]

Try the new "block unwanted popups" instead of "block all popups." Popups that you click on will now work, while blocking any "surprises." Spiffy!

[G]

Good tip.

Opera has a forum if you have not been there before.

[Strawbs]

Started just today! I refresh a page with maybe 5 or 6 other pages open and the program randomly crashes back to the desktop. I've increased the cache sizes for eveything I could but it just happened again!

What gives? anyone else seen this? :(

I may have to return to v7.23 if this continues for too much longer!

[G]

I have not had any problems Swabs.

Did you completely uninstall the previous Opera version? I had to do this as I had remnants from an Opera 7 folder that was causing problems.

The fix was to uninstall Opera 7.5 and delete the Opera 7 and 7.5 folders under Program Files. Then install Opera 7.5. I have not had any problems since I did this today.

[Aznmask]

Originally posted by AdamST
IE doesnt have a built in pop up blocker, and ALL the addware and spyware gets through.

that is not an issue anymore after you install google toolbar.. )-| If u didn't know you should install one.

[Cpl_Squirrel]

Originally posted by Strawbs
What gives? anyone else seen this? :(
No problems here, but I uninstalled 7.2x first, then used my old bookmark file on the new version. Hope you can get it working...I like this update.

[Aznmask]

i uninstalled 7.5 after installed for 5min.. so buggy and it not friendly as the 7.23

[Strawbs]

I think I have found the cause of my problem!

Server connections were limited to 8 only, page refreshes took the connections past that and made the program crash (a warning would've been nice)!

Problem solved by increasing maximum connections allowed. :D

[Strawbs]

I gone back to v.7.23!

7.5 seems to allow more empty webpage ad frames and sometimes allows the ads through as well, even with NIS set to auto-block. I never had this problem with 7.23 and I will not suffer it whilst I have a choice.

I've also noticed webpages don't seem to want to load more often that before, and in comparison to IE6 SP2-RC1, Opera v7.5 is the slower of the 2 in general, even my Animated "Sonic" avatar "runs" slower in a side-by-side comparison with 7.23. I think they finalised it too soon after they released the beta and not enough testing was undertaken :note my shock at v7.5 final being released so soon in an earlier post:

Nope - 2 thumbs down from me - I think I'll give 7.5 a miss. :(

[Nascarfan_40]

ur on the right track. Forget about IE all together. Opera is a very good browser. I prefer Mozilla Firefox myself. Been using it for about a year and love it. All and all Opera and Mozilla FF are better than IE.

[Strawbs]

A lot of the issues with IE6 have been addressed with the release of SP2 RC1 for WinXP! it's only tabbed browsing that it needs now IMO.

[mrpickles]

Originally posted by CrazyMike
I just d/l Opera 7.5 a few days ago because I could not get java to work on IE6 under WinXP. (Tried everything) Opera ROCKS! Does anyone have any experience with it? Any down side to it? I can't think of a reason not to make this my browser of choice. What are some things a new Opera user can do to get the most out of the browser (ie security, speed, ease of use)

I've been using Opera for years.
Upside...Its fast-great and has some toggle buttons for images off & background etc. Can import IE bookmarks + easy edit/add notes, easy to organize, and use email too.

Downside...Only problems I have rare-sometime is some Java/ActiveX scripts working right on few www.

Other then that I also use in order;
1. Opera :t
2. Fast Browser :rolleyes:
3. IE (basically never) )-|

[G]

Opera V7.51 is out

I would recommend uninstalling and then updating to the latest Java version of Opera once Java has been installed.

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

Main Java site:
http://java.sun.com/

This should fix most problems Strawbs

[Strawbs]

Did That! no problems so far (except for the avatar is still running in slo-mo), but I really don't know why I bother ...I always use the same skin (Blue Button, :-@) so it looks just the same as the old version anyway.

Cheers G. :t

[Aznmask]

Since i dont have any problem on Opera 7.23.. so i don't need to update to 7.51..

Ya my favor skin is Fusion.. (using since Opera 6.5)

[Strawbs]

Am I breaking the EULA by changing the Opera banner to something more ...er...personal? :eek:

[G]

Now that is neat.

Strawbs, you still using the free version.

Just cannot help some people :D

[Strawbs]

What can I say, except that I'm cheap! :D