Two weeks using Opera 7.54: Why should you consider changing?

[Miles]

Luke gives us a very clear insight into the newest version of Opera (7.54).

Feel free to post your comments and questions here!

Link to Article

[Tapir]

Ok i read Luke's review. Have been an Opera user for quite a while. Am lacking in words to start a discussion but will say that it is a very good review.

[rjs735]

I started out using Netscape back at netscape 2.0. When AOL bought netscape I guessed it was the end of a good product. So I found OPERA 4.? have been happy ever since.

I wanted a small fast browser with an integrated email client and also got restart back to where you left off as part of the package along with password wanding and many other features.

I also have firefox mozilla and all the other open source products.

The one I still like the best is Opera now at 7.54 soon to be 8. I hope that 8 is as good or better than 7.54.

Most every thing is pretty much straight forward. I even have spell check for email ( add on but still).

The support forums are good and the opera support is there when you need them.

The rss feed work. Opera news auto feed works fine. You can keep abreast fo the new developements this way.

Even with the free version the ads don't bother me any more.

It is hard package to beat. Given for what it offer and what I want it is perfect for me.

[Lucas_Maximus]

I haven't used the Opera Forums or some of the more advanced features such as rjs735, I am still using free version everyday.

One thing I have had a problem with since the review gmail.google.com I can't log into my account using Opera, however I usually use pop to access it, so it isn't an issue.

I also still have a habit of using firefox and opera at the same time.

[rjs735]

Don't confuse the opera mail with getting to your gmail using opera. The opera mail is a (for fee) web based offering from opera.

If you go to mail on the tool bar and select new account then fill the info for your pop and smtp and password ( one time) . You should then be able to get to your gmail using the opera m2 email client. You will have to use the panels selection icon to toggle between the left side for the email folders which are called "filters" but are really folders.

You can define more than one email account. As well as support for POP and IMAP as well as IRC, newsfeeds.

Your not the first to have this problem. I hope this helps a little.

[Lucas_Maximus]

yeah but I couldn't log in using the gmail web page.

[rjs735]

According to some more knowledgeable people than myself Gmail elected not to support Opera.

However opera * beta 3 works with gmail.

Also if you go here there is workaround

http://www.scss.com.au/family/andrew/opera/gmail/

BTW when you reponded back with I tried that . Then I knew it was a gmail problem not necassarily an opera problem.

read some more here

http://stuff.techwhack.com/archives/...rowser-8-beta/

There seems to some people who have it running read here
http://my.opera.com/forums/showthrea...ighlight=gmail

Hope I've helped some. The 8b3 is in final and 8 official may not be too far off.

[polonyc2]

I think most people would agree that Opera is a great browser....the problem lies in the fact that it is not free!!...most people are hesitant to use it because of that fact alone...I don't want to use a browser that I have to pay for when there are similar free browsers out there...and I also don't want to use the free banner ad edition one either

until Opera decides to offer a "completely" free version of their browser then they will always be left in the background behind IE and Firefox

I don't understand why they feel the need to charge for a browser when everyone else is offering one for free?...unless they add some revolutionary features that no one else has then they are kidding themseleves if they expect their product to gain market share

[polymorphic]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

I think most people would agree that Opera is a great browser....the problem lies in the fact that it is not free!!...most people are hesitant to use it because of that fact alone...I don't want to use a browser that I have to pay for when there are similar free browsers out there...and I also don't want to use the free banner ad edition one either

until Opera decides to offer a "completely" free version of their browser then they will always be left in the background behind IE and Firefox

I don't understand why they feel the need to charge for a browser when everyone else is offering one for free?...unless they add some revolutionary features that no one else has then they are kidding themseleves if they expect their product to gain market share

Personally, I think the use of Opera gives an "OOOH...AHHH" feeling to those who use it because they feel special. Just to be different, in other words. I had to be different too, but that was when I was going through my rebellious youth back in the day. Why would anyone pay for a browser, or use its free version with ads?

I do have to say to all you guys paying for the Opera browser, thanks in advance. If Opera eventually becomes a viable, descent free browser once it's fully developed, I might try it out. But they've been developing Opera even longer than Duke Nukem Forever. I used it in '98 or so and uninstalled it the very same day.

[Lucas_Maximus]

well polymorphic, the review says it all, I think it worth paying for.

it well coded, I still haven't had Opera crash, it got some good features. And a lot of hardwork has been put into it. The banner ad isn't that intrusive either.

[rjs735]

polymorphic, polonyc2

I don't know why you say Opera is still in developement. IE has had v2-8. Netscape has had 1-7 and Mozilla and its offspring have had numerous versions.

As as far as fee or free . We are in a free market .

As far as banner ads I don't even see them and don't pay any attention to them.

As far as being different, if different is not being targeted by trojans and or virus because I am not running IE . Then I am guilty.

I can download more than 2 files at a time.

IE is free because MS was forced to compete at that time with netscape which was the reigning browser and it was free. Now Netscape is owned by AOL. AOL has lost and is loosing it's customers at a very high rate now they are pushing Netscape as your ISP to regain some of their lost revenue.

Mozilla is the only browser that is truely in the market place with no strings attached. Mozilla's stake in the game is they are open source and they are also big in the Linux arena.

In summary if you think you have something that people are willing to pay for why not. If you don't want a lot of pop ups targeting IE users, if you want an integrated email program, if you want to download more than one file at a time without a download manager, if you want fast browser with back to the origin start on restarting ability to customize look and function . Then its Opera.

Most of this comes down to personal choice. You don't have to pay for a browser. You don't have to put of with banner ads. You can use a free browser Mozilla's various variants are about it. And even they are starting to be targeted for one malware or another. IE is not really free today because it is so integrated with os ( you payed for the OS) that to get rid of it takes effort that is better spent doing something else.

[polymorphic]

Originally Posted by rjs735

polymorphic, polonyc2

I don't know why you say Opera is still in developement. IE has had v2-8. Netscape has had 1-7 and Mozilla and its offspring have had numerous versions.

As as far as fee or free . We are in a free market .

As far as banner ads I don't even see them and don't pay any attention to them.

As far as being different, if different is not being targeted by trojans and or virus because I am not running IE . Then I am guilty.

I can download more than 2 files at a time.

All valid points, except the multiple downloads. There is a registry hack for as many downloads as you want for IE, and as far as Firefox goes, I don't believe there is a limit, is there?

But, once Opera hits the main stream we'll see the crackz and exploits grow. Mozilla was never even close to condending with IE, IMHO, until Firefox showed up last year and was actually functioning nicely. The only reason I switched from IE was for the tabbed browsing. And it was only recently that they stopped the crashing.

I think most open sourced folk live in a dream land where they think the virus writers and adware producers have some kind of respect for them merely because they are open source. In the real world, the only reason Opera is not attacked is because no one uses it. So the real solution is not to advertise your software and just keep it to yourself.

[teng029]

i've been using opera for the last two years now and while i'm not about to claim its better than firefox or any other browser; i will say that it works for me.

the reason i made the switch at the time i did was i was tired of IE and the numerous popups (keep in mind this was two years ago). i'd heard of opera at the time and decided to give it a try. i haven't used anything else since. i use the free version and the truth is, the ads don't bother me. and no, it was never about being rebellious or being "special," i just wanted something better than IE.

i've since tried firefox, and while it is a great browser, i'm just used to opera by now that i refuse to switch.

[Lucas_Maximus]

Originally Posted by polymorphic

I think most open sourced folk live in a dream land where they think the virus writers and adware producers have some kind of respect for them merely because they are open source. In the real world, the only reason Opera is not attacked is because no one uses it. So the real solution is not to advertise your software and just keep it to yourself.

they don't mate, the fact is that people who use open source software are usually more savvy with computers than those who don't as a general rule. thus they keep stuff upto date and thus their systems secure.

Also unix systems are more secure by design than windows, most people are given administrative privelges by default in windows, however in linux only the superuser has that and you must log into it to make system wide changes and install software. Most virus writers use the fact that the person running a copy of windows are the superuser and that is why virus's, scripts can take over a system so quick they have full control of the OS!

However this isn't possible with the *nixs since you need to log into root, the users profiles etc maybe damaged but the system itself will be fine.

Also with Opensource Software you have the advantage that anyone can spoot a potential security flaw since the source is completely transparent.

[Lucas_Maximus]

Originally Posted by polymorphic

But, once Opera hits the main stream we'll see the crackz and exploits grow. Mozilla was never even close to condending with IE, IMHO, until Firefox showed up last year and was actually functioning nicely. The only reason I switched from IE was for the tabbed browsing. And it was only recently that they stopped the crashing.

1. Opera will never be used as much as IE or firefox ever becasue of the attitude that you and polync2 have towards it, that they don;t have to pay.
to be honest $40 for two version of a product is pretty cheap considering how many days you're going to have that for. And the banner ad isn't intrusive at all if you fancy trying the free version.
2. Opera seems to be very well coded, that inticates to me there are probably not that many security holes, however I am no expert on the subject of security.

I reviews it from a standpoint of the amount of features and it got more than most browsers. It free to try with no evaluation period. The whole point of the article is there are more ways to look at the internet than just IE and firefox. Choose a browser to suite your needs.