Opera is a fast, easy to use, all-around Internet browser. It can also be used for intranet if site is compatible. Now it is possible to run multiple windows even at start-up and many special features
are included in
version 7 of Windows Beta 2. Opera supports several applications like, CSS, Java, JavaScript SSL (128-bit) and may be many more.
I am using Opera since last one year after reading a review in MS on opera. Just updated the older version-5 to the latest version 7. One can download it from opera.com. You have two options -
1. Download the full version of 12.7 MB with java script takes about an hour.
2. Or go for with out Java Script 3.2 MB takes about 20 minutes to download
I have downloaded the full version because my earlier version was not a registered one. To get better support of java, I have selected the full version. The full version of Opera is now available for free and it is an ad-sponsored version. Registered users will not be disturbed by ads but registration costs is $39. The upgrade from Opera 4 will cost you $15 but users who have registered and paid for Opera 5 can upgrade to latest version for free. Quite an expensive affair, so as always, I have chosen the free version.
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Useful features--------------------------
Opera has some really nice features if compared with IE or Netscape. New version Opera 7 is full of new features and these are as follows.
# Opera is much smaller than other major internet browsers. It is a full-featured application and offers more few additional functions than others. Installation takes merely a minute and does not occupy too much of space of your hard disk. Updating to the latest version is available at Opera.com and it is fast and easy. Opera functions well on systems with limited resources. A full featured opera occupies only 12.7 MB.
# It is much faster than IE or Netscape in many cases. Opera features integrated search and instant messaging. It supports new JavaScript versions.
# Opera comes with a built-in, full-featured E-mail client. It supports a contact database, multiple account functionality and filtering. An E-mail account can be set up to work in a very short time.
# Opera’s user interface has a new start-up dialog. You have several options for display and you can straight go to last saved web pages. New start-up dialog is very useful.
# New Blue and white color scheme can be changed to the Classic Opera look or another design. There are too many choices for download; even a skin similar to that of IE6 is also available.
# It has a better Panel option. Place Web pages in panels that are displayed in the Hotlist during your browsing session. In Hotlist one can store favourite sites in addition to Bookmark. Panels are available at my.opera.com / customize. Panel can be customized as per your choice.
# The Wand password manager does the one-click log-in to password protected sites. Log-in fields with available passwords are marked with a slick golden edge. One can access these pages by simply clicking the Wand icon in the panel.
# Personal Bar and Page bar and features improved window handling. Drag favorite bookmarks from the Hotlist to the Personal bar and keep your most used search engines easily available. One can customize it in the View menu.
# Hotclick - Double-click a word (or right-click a selected phrase) and get a pop-up menu with features such as search, encyclopedia look-up, and translation. This is very useful feature.
# Bookmarks search is good and one can import bookmarks of IE and store here
# It has improved its drag-and-drop and support for Unicode and Live Connect.
# Almost everything in Opera can be done through a keyboard shortcut but not as good as IE.
# Opera can easily be configured to push all pop-up windows to the background or to not show them at all.
# The advanced cookie management capability in Opera can prevent certain sites from planting cookies in computer. You can accept, view, filter, or deny cookies as you please - this is good for security reason.
# Users can zoom in and out of entire Web pages without loss of quality from 20 to 1000%. Opera changes the size of the fonts and images, making the browser highly accessible to users with visual defect.
# Toolbar - New version is having a very versatile toolbar. Opera’s many toolbars, like the main, status, personal bar, page bar, address bars can be customized with lot of option. Favorite bookmarks and searches can be stored and organized on personal bar. The page bar keeps track of Web pages (tabs) in SDI mode, similar to the window bar in MDI mode. Right-click your favorite image to use it as a skin on your browser interface or display it on your desktop. Design your own buttons for the main bar, and add program sounds to Opera events.
# Its in-buil Super Search is powered by Goggle and one more search engine. These engine works better with this application, searching web is very fast.
Yet to try many of its options
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Difficulties--------------------------
I think all good things have a darker side and Opera is no different. Because of following reason I still have IE 5.5 as an alternate browser.
# Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with many secure sites. Yahoo messenger or companion is also not compatible.
# Often have to switch over to IE whenever I buy something online
# Opera crashes once in awhile (not to often) so it is better to save the downloaded application to any other drive so that reinstallation is easy
# Web pages I print don’t usually look like original
According to few opinions in some other sites, it has too many other problems but I have never faced such problems. IE 6 may be a better application but it is really difficult to get rid of it when it stops working.
Other than all that, Opera really is very nice and easy to use. I use it mainly due to several available options that make life easier and the speed. Guys, this version (7) of Opera does not fit in a floppy like its older version 4. You have to burn a CD to store it.
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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
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Software version:
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7 beta 2
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