Let’s All Go to (the) Opera!

(With apologies to Sir Paul) It was 15 years ago today, Opera started on its way…   Today is the 15th anniversary of the Opera browser, my browser of choice, but more importantly, a browser that has led the way with many features used by others, in Mozilla, Chrome, and yes, even Internet Exploder®!

from the Opera celebration portal -

Celebrating 15 years of browser innovation

Come join us and find out what’s next in Opera’s ongoing evolution

Fifteen years ago, two computer scientists sat at their desks in a research lab in what is today Telenor, Norway’s telecommunications incumbent, itching to begin a new project. They were going to build their own Web browser. Those first keystrokes would become Opera, the browser that has set — and continues to set — the standard for browser innovation. Jon von Tetzchner, the CEO of Opera Software, and Geir Ivarsøy began coding the original desktop Web browser in April 1994. Today, about 40 million people use Opera on their Windows, Mac and Linux computers.

just below that, on the site, is a cartoon strip telling the story of the beginnings of Opera – it’s quite entertaining, if you like that sort of thing.

Also, they show 15 reasons why you should use Opera  Forgive my proselytizing, it’s for your own good! (doesn’t that sound paternal? it’s supposed to.)

• Tomorrow’s browser today

Speed Dial, Page Zoom, Synchronize, tabs above Address Bar and many more. Opera’s features are often emulated by other browsers. Read below to see why we are often called the Research & Development center of the browser industry.

• Instant navigation

With Mouse Gestures and extensive keyboard shortcuts, you will never need to click the back button again.

• It is FAST

Opera invented fast browsing. We were fast before the other guys were even born. From day one speed has been a prime focus, something that is visible to anyone using Opera. This is not just about tests, but real life.

• Super safe

An outstanding security record (according to Secunia) in addition to the included fraud and malware protection.

• Synchronize your life

With Opera Link your PC, Mac and mobile browsers are all synced with bookmarks, notes and more.

• Tabbed browsing master

Opera is the pioneer of tabbed browsing with features like undo closed tab and rearrange tab order.

• Speed Dial

Another first from Opera–access your favorite Web sites with a thumbnail quick-dial. Opera lets YOU decide which sites should be there, unlike other browsers.

• Save tabs for later

With sessions you can save different tabs for opening at another time.

• Zoom in & out

Opera introduced this feature where you can zoom into Web pages to read small fonts and get a closer look at image details without straining your eyes.

• Fill forms & passwords

With the Wand, you never have to retype your information.

• Unique & customizable

Opera’s uniqueness lies in its personality and tradition which is obvious every time you use it. At the same time, you can customize it with hundreds of skins and configuration options.

• Look nowhere else

Read your RSS feeds, download BitTorrent files and access your email–all from the browser.

• Opera runs on all (even older) hardware

Opera believes that even your old computer deserves to continue being in use longer. Our goal is to run on up to 10 year old computers and on real world networks. Thus you will notice a significantly faster browsing experience on your old computer on a slow network, and Opera Turbo now makes it even faster.

• The Opera community

More than 2 million members of the most helpful, fun and passionate community anywhere.

It’s FREE!

Well, number 15 is true for all browsers now, but that still makes 14 great reasons to use it. There is not a day goes by that I don’t use the features of the wand – it is truly a time saver, especially if you visit many sites, and use different passwords (you should!). It also allows the efficient filling out of forms without having to use Robo-Form, or any equivalent.

Also, tooting their own horn, they remind you of the innovations of Opera, many of which are used by others, with people thinking they originated in those browsers. Wrong! There is also a feature review, with innovations shown where and when they came out, so that naysayers can be shown that Opera was the innovator.

Many users who have become accustomed to Firefox will think that Opera doesn’t have much to offer because of no plug-ins. Instead, Opera has Widgets, and many of them do things only dreamed of with Firefox plugs. They also tend to be lighter in weight, which keeps the browser very snappy.

For Chrome users, Opera 9.64 is not as speedy, but also nowhere near as spare. I found when using Chrome, anything other than simply amusing myself by flipping pages, to show the speed, was extremely annoying without the things I’ve become used to with Opera. Opera 10 Alpha shows signs of blistering speed, as well as a built-in spellcheck – really nice for those like me, who know how to spell, but have errant fingers.

The Speed Dial is something that most will really like – someone who develops Firefox add-ins liked it enough to duplicate it for Firefox. I wonder, however, if it is as easily modified as the one in Opera. The Speed Dial in Opera comes with a default of 12 spots, a 4 x 3 matrix, but with very little trouble it can be expanded. I have mine set to 20 spots, a 5 x 4 matrix – done in less than about 5 minutes, including the addition of the addresses of the websites. Things like this are all over Opera, and finding out about them is easily done by looking through the Opera Community.

One last thing, I like dark themes. Opera has quite a few. Firefox has dark themes, but most are difficult to use with a properly calibrated monitor – they are simply dark, blending into darker. Others are simply angry fruit salad that has been darkened, like rotting fruit. In any case, the dark themes in Opera are to my eye, much more pleasing – that has also allowed me to convert quite a few others. All the other plusses were icing on the Opera cake.

Give it a try. It is easily removed if you don’t like it, and its removal program really can remove the traces of the program – another plus! If you give it one week, there is a better than average chance you’ll be a convert!

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