Opera Web Browser

Well, we all used IE (was using 6.0) - the spyware, the popups, the infinite windows opening. 

Then I used Mozilla because I was told it was lightning fast, then I couldnt login to yahoo mail.

Then I used Mozilla Firefox because it was supposed to be a cleaner implementation to Mozilla. 

Then I still wanted more speed, and I found out factually that Opera is the fastest browser ever @ Browser Speed Comparisons.  Opera also has some super features in tabbed browsing that Firefox does not have etc.

So, the long and short is: Opera is my current choice.

Welcome to the best kept secret on the Internet. I have been using Opera right from the first time it was launched. Call me a rebel, but I always like using alternative stuff.  I never got used to IE, then the fact that am a power browser, and it leaves donkey pages on my desktop, made me look for alternatives: Opera, Avantbrowser, Netscape, etc.

Opera is the fastest, and also the smallest to install.  To be honest, I never really use the mouse gestures.  What I love most is that it stores all my passwords for all account names and with the magic wand, presto, it logs me in. Long before Firefox, Opera was the same on all platforms MacOS, Linux, 'Winbloze'

Thank you for spreading the word.  Now I can't keep Opera to myself.  And did I mention that it has an in-built mail client?

@Hidden_hunter: when I freshly install Opera, I just close the side bars.  This makes it better.

I don't like Opera browser as much as Firefox.  It's pretty good, pretty fast, but not the fastest by any means.  It used to be lightweight compared to Firefox but now they're basically the same. 

I dislike the fact that the Opera browser works so differently from Internet Explorer, and the free version uses some of your valuable screen estate to display ads.  But as the screenshot above shows, you have the option of displaying lightweight text ads instead of images.

seun, thanks for the hint on text ads, and Hidden_Hunter, your website is most lovely.

i agree opera is a little bloated and to tell the truth, i still use IE and Firefox.  Also, multiple browsers allow 3 different people to log in to the same website at the same time blah blah..

I have tried most of the available browsers am yet to find any that's as good as Opera. The following are one of the basic reasons why i like it so much:

1.) You can save your session, this enables you to continue from where you stop whithout needing to have many bookmarked sites.
2.) The tabbed browsing is not rivaled.
3.) It's super-fast and i can even get  to see how my Internet link is going through the progress bar.
4.) I get to use some nice skins too.
5.) Automatic saving of sessions, this is really helpful when you use NEPA without UPS.

So Seun can u beat that. Though Firefox is the flagship of open source but i will rather go with Opera. The only drawback i have found with Opera so far is the Java thing, and i don't really give a fuss about that again since most interactive sites are now using Flash.

I like konquer out of  linux though as well, it ranks fairly highly in my book

more reasons why i love opera?

1.  you can drag a tab from one window to another window! infact you can drag an image from a web page to another web page or window..
2.  when it crashes, you can restart exactly from where you stopped, all your windows, all your tabs, all your pages loaded as if nothing happened!

i confirmed all these today.  there are many other features i can't list now.  i am beginning to feel it is one of the best software i've used!  and nairaland is one of the best sites i've used to.  these are good times

Opera is currently giving away free registration codes to mark their 10th year anniversary!

Visit  http://my.opera.com/community/party/reg.dml

Hurry, the offer will only last as long as their currently running 10th year anniversary party!

@Seun: You should've started a new topic about the 10th anniversary. Now everyone has to scroll to the bottom before they see it Btw, the offer ends midnight, 31st, their time or so. I guess it's just a few hours left now.

When you browse using IE, activex controls are enabled by default, which means any site that has a activex based malicious script can automatically be installed into your hard-disk.

The embedding of ActiveX into the Internet Explorer web browser created a combination of functions that has led to an explosion of computer virus, trojan and spyware infections. These malware attacks mostly depend on ActiveX for their activation and propagation to other computers. Microsoft recognized the problem with ActiveX as far back as 1996 when Charles Fitzgerald, program manager of Microsoft's Java team said "If you want security on the 'Net', unplug your computer. ... We never made the claim up front that ActiveX is intrinsically secure." [1] ActiveX as it is currently implemented is intrinsically insecure and is the biggest weakness of Internet Explorer not addressed by Internet Explorer Service Pack 2.

hope you undertand.

What destroys technology is its abuse. Once its abuse, the main propose is useless.

IE is now improved...it's because you've not been using it. It actually asks you that this website is about to install an activeX control onto your computer and you can choose whether to allow or deny. For that reason, I am going to test Opera/firefox by using them to browse some notorious warez sites known for such mal-wares and see if they would install on my computer or not.

Those of you who are used to working on IE, and find Opera too heavy,
Firefox too unconventional or unfamiliar I suggest trying out Avant Browser (http://www.avantbrowser.com/).
It's free, uses IE interface minus all security vulnerabilities, supports multiple tabs, multi-windows since ages,
is faster, is now available in

41 languages

 and most importantly, has served me well for years now. No limitations. No Adware. No Spyware. You can donate if you want, but it's certainly not required. It has built in search engine, Ad/pop-up blocker, supports Real Full Screen Mode and Alternative Full Desktop mode, safe recovery in case of abrupt termination, with excellent control over privacy settings.
It's a must try for those who feel shy of using firefox for whatever reasons.

I only said that people who miss IE for any reason, and are uncomfortable migrating to Firefox, Avant is the best choice. I am not out here comparing browsers. Though I like Firefox as well, we should always keep one thing in mind. No browser is free from vulnerabilities, including Firefox. Firefox has yet to resolve its memory related issues. At least Avant comes up with new versions immediately they come across any issues. It's also true that if you get the right plugins, FireFox can be the only browser you'll ever need. Firefox has its own vulnerabilities, and from what I look, their timeframe to release the fix is even worse than Avant's. Both have security issues--whether one is more secure than the other makes very little difference. One major advantage that Firefox has enjoyed over IE is that..it's not a Microsoft product.

By the way, I have been advocating open source movement, it will not be out of place to mention this PCWORLD report on slipping market share of Firefox  at http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,122213,00.asp.
Well, no arugements over popularity again, as a general rule use what one feels most comfortable using, and serves the purpose well.

Do you know that Opera 8.5 is now free?  See www.opera.com/free/

They have made so much money from licensing the mobile/phone version of their browser that they don't need the money from the desktop version anymore! 

I think I still prefer Firefox because Opera is just too different.  I like that it's compact and efficient, but I can't bear the sharp differences from the way IE and Mozilla work!