Time for another (Browser) War
Published May 19, 2005
Then you have us "full internet suite" types. Now, if you were to look at my browser, you'd see what is entirely important to me. I have a clock next to my address bar, because to me, that is a very logical place, and I'm terrible with time, especially when I'm on the computer. I don't like wearing a watch while I type, and having to look all the way down to the right corner of my monitor every few minutes is very disruptive. Also, when it comes to email, my main means of correspondence, you'll see that I have all the tools I need to use email right next to the clock. With the click of a button, I can check my mail, or send an email. I don't like animated pictures, or flash, so I have them disabled, yet whenever I come to a site which I'll need one or both of these features (Fark.com's photoshop contests, for example), I can hit F12, pull up a menu, and turn them on. And the security is to die for. I don't have spyware problems, I have never gotten an email virus, and it is always obvious when I'm on a secure page. And, finally, I like what my friends call "brain surgeon" mode. All of my pages come up at 90% zoom. And here's the innovative part, it doesn't just zoom text, but all the images also. A feature to die for. It's worth $40, it has everything Firefox has (through extensions) already implemented and fully integrated. I'd say give it a try, you might be glad you did. Even if their "mascot" is a bit silly.
- Time for another (Browser) War
- Published: May 19, 2005
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sci/Tech
- Filed Under: Sci/Tech: Internet, Sci/Tech: Software
- Writer: Andrew Hughes
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Yeah, I haven't had time to completely go through Netscape 8 yet, but I plan on writing up a review within the next few days.
So what specifically does Opera 8 change in the current browser space that is a quantum leap forward? I can't see much that catches my eye.
They've cleaned up the UI (not that big of a deal, I know). It not prevents phishing through Internationalized Domain Names, support for gmail and other sites requiring xmlhttprequest, and user javascript (some geek tool that I don't use too often). Then there's the voice function, now you can browse by using a microphone (interesting...). But, aside from that, it's just a repackaged Opera 7, which is why 7's registration codes work with 8.
firefox owns all other browsers
Opera rocks! Its my browser of choice followed by IE and lastly Firefox. I've gone through several versions of Firefox and their name changes, but found myself going back to IE. I've found Firefox (including the latest version) to be slow, and the fanboy-ism is downright annoying. IE is way faster,and so is Opera minus the security problems. The F12 toggle is waay cool, and everything just works, and works real well and fast!
Opera is one of the coolest things ever with a feature called mouse gestures. I don't know if the other browsers have it, but I don't think they do. Mouse gestures let you do tons of stuff with a flick of the mouse, for example, you hold the right button and go down and up and let go pretty fast, and you open a new page. If you click right and then left, you go back, if you click left then right, you go forward. It is so conveniant.
OK - I'm running Opera 8.0 now - it's not bad - but not very different, as yet. They have continued the age-old tech tradition of messing with words, using 'page' to refer to 'tab'.
Will tell you how this browser pans out in a while
Well, it's not really tabs, actually. Long story, but look up Multiple Document Interface. That's what Opera uses.
Well, it's not really tabs, actually. Long story, but look up Multiple Document Interface. That's what Opera uses.
great, the comments section choked a little, and i come across as an idiot.
Could you repeat that just one more time
Andrew for those who missed it the first
six times? LOL! Just kidding dude.
It has happened to others before.
seems like all the other posts got modded out. Thank the good Cosmic Muffin.
Opera is smaller than firefox, and has more features. If you want speed and low memory/hard drive use... Operas the way to go.
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(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/29764)
Netscape 8 was also released last week - worth checking out if one would like to play around with different rendering engines, and believe that the medium dictates the message.