Make Opera my default browser

IE7 was really slowing my laptop down so I tried all sorts of browsers. FF3 created so much hassle: downloading an extension for every little thing, and though not as slow as IE7, was still slow. Chrome was fast, but too minimalistic. Appearance also invoked bad memories of IE7. Safari—not an option as it’s a Windows PC. Tried several others but nothing came close to Opera, who was not only fast (comparable to Chrome, then again it’s probably just my laptop), but was full-featured and easy to customise and use. Love Opera!

do I make Opera my default browser?

Okay, I managed to do this. The trick for me was to learn the keyboard shortcuts, and configure QT for my mostly GTK desktop. I love the integrated download manager, and ability to download every link almost at once. It’s amazing how many features are built-in, that Firefox needs extensions to match, yet Opera continues to beat Firefox performance-wise.

Nevertheless, I found myself backsliding a month ago. Some very important websites wouldn’t render or respond correctly in Opera, but did in Firefox. Also, I got onto a video kick, and found that they wouldn’t play well in Opera.

I could not go back to using Firefox or IE, Opera handles RSS, email and downloads much better than anything else I’ve used.

After using IE and Firefox, Opera is definitely the best of the three imo…nonobtrusive, customizable layout, tabbed browsing, WIDGETS!, saved sessions, and customizable download preferences (I got sick of Firefox precisely because everything was saved to the desktop or another predetermined common place). =)

On MS Windows desktops, I switched to Firefox as default web browser several years ago. Never looked back, and even had the gall to laugh at others’ foibles and fumbles with Internet Explorer. Well, I still adore Firefox, but find that it can be a real resource hog, especially on old laptops running current software. After hearing for the gazillionth time that Opera runs lighter and faster than just about anything else, I determined to try it out. Now that I’m on Linux, the web browser selections seem nothing more than 32 flavors of Mozilla, or some promising-looking but sadly abandoned independent products. Except for Opera.

Loaded with features, something for everyone and everything; it’s just a matter of getting used to how it works, tailoring it to your needs, then going buck-wild. I really like the idea of a handy, integrated Bittorrent client, being able to change the interface color quickly, moving the tab bar to the bottom, installing those nifty floaty widgets, and transparently managing sessions. All impressive, but when I try to do something quick, I tend to expect Opera to behave just like Firefox, then get frustrated when it ‘fails’, and pull up Firefox right quick. So, advice to remember, similar to that for Linux newbies, fresh from Windows and confused about…everything:

Opera != Firefox

So, now Opera is installed on all my computers. Hopefully, constant exposure will wean me off of Firefox, which I don’t /hate/, I just need better performance on all the older hardware I use now, and think Opera is how to get.

I have been using Opera since 6 and find that with as much as I browse and search and design, it is absolutely the most efficient and simple (while still having loads of features) browser around. It is extremely low-maintenance (nothing extra to install) and highly customizeable. I couldn’t live without it!

Opera has everything i could want in a browser – it’s fast, really customisable and above all, userfriendly.

it’s a hell of a lot better than the other browsers i’ve used – and prettier too!!!!

I’ve been using the Opera browser for 7 years. It’s the best ever. Firefox, internet explorer and all other browsers suck.

Opera is the best. I loves me my mouse gestures.