Comments on: Why you should use the Opera browser

By: Jake

Jake — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:40:46 +0000

@zigfred: Oh, okay. I guess I wasn’t as familiar with Opera as I thought. When I first tried widgets, most of the ones I found did not directly interface with the working of the browser…. for instance with widgets I wouldn’t be able to change how the scrolling works or change elements on the page.

In fact, I thought that they were more like widgets in the sense of desktop widgets with SuperKaramba and Gdesklets.

I guess I’ll have to look more into it. If I can create extensions in Opera to make it behave how I want, then it may be a viable web browser for me.

By: zigfred

zigfred — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:27:22 +0000

Jake: Opera has a cool set of “extensions” known as widgets. Although they are not as diverse as Firefox but the are growing in number as the number of Opera users has risen steadily througout the years.

Perhaps firefox beat Opera in terms of extensions. But extensions aside I believe the more superior browser in terms of functionality is Opera.

But perhaps its also a matter of preference. I have been so used to using the Opera browser that I don’t feel comfortable with firefox. For example I wanted the google toolbar which shows the page rank. Although there is already a widget for this but it does not come close compared to the “extension” for firefox and the toolbar for IE. However I choose to wait for the right Opera wdiget for that. I feel more at home with Opera.

Nevertheless I have firefox installed, just in case I need it as there are a few number of sites that has issued with Opera. Firefox is of course the best alternative for me than using IE.

Anyway for as long as we are not using IE, firefox and opera may be the best way to go !

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 20:31:40 +0000

I do like the altogether function of Opera in theory. However, the mail client, RSS reader, and BitTorrent downloader are simply not robust enough for me to be able to use full time.

My main issue is extensions. For instance, I need my HitAHint to browse with the keyboard, which is what I mainly use. I am an avid user of StumbleUpon. I control my music from FoxyTunes and post to twitter with TwittyTunes. I block ads with CustomizeGoogle and Adblock Plus. I use Google Desktop search and I like my browsing history in there. I can’t stand to scroll without my SmoothScroll extension… and so forth. I simply can’t do near as much in Opera as I can in Firefox. I’m forced to use the the mouse more. I have to open my music player up to quickly pause it. I have to go to my IM program to post to Twitter. I still come across ads. I have more trouble finding previously visited websites. And my loose scroll mouse feels unnatural… and so forth.

Opera has potential, but for now I need my extensions. I have about 80 installed at the moment, the above is but a small subset.

By: Essie Webber

Essie Webber — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 22:40:10 +0000

I have used Firefox for so long I have been pretty ignorant of the other browsers out there but Opera comes up often enough that I’ve been curious. his was a great write up, really enough detail for me to compare with my present Firefox set up. You have convinced me, anyway, that I have to at least try Opera. Thanks.

Essie

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:23:56 +0000

I’ve always used Firefox. I might try this one out. Thanks for the tip