--This week a review for just about everybody--

I was sitting around this week, well not actually sitting more like listening to MP3's and eating <blank> caffeinated peppermints, oh and working on trying to figure out what product to review. Suddenly it hit me, Opera. It is available on pretty much every operating system, it hasn't been reviewed yet, and people love it.

I am sure a lot of you already know about Opera (It is the #1 seller here every week), but I am certain their still others who don't know about it.

The Basics - Opera is a fast feature loaded web browser, with built in mail client, newsreader (Somebody take this weeks poll) and an ICQ compatible messenger for multiple operating systems.

I don't mean to skim over the features, but for web browsers there is a standard (and user expected) feature set. Opera can do it all, lets talk about the more unique features.

Browser Windows
- If you are a user who always has multiple browser windows Opera can clean up your screen. Instead of having multiple instances of the browser open and scattered everywhere, Opera keeps the Windows within itself. (Plus you can define limits so you don't open to many).

Display
- Completely customizable bars and bar locations
- Bookmarks/Favorites/Shortcuts whatever you want to call them, the display can be docked or floated.
- And if you haven't registered Opera and are just trying it out, the banner ad is small and not distracting (I recommend registering it).
- Have trouble seeing or is the webpage small? Opera will zoom in at up to 1000%.
- Use a screen reader? Opera has special settings to work with it.

Speed
- Opera is faster (enough said)

Controls
- Is hitting the back button to slow? What about keyboard shortcuts being to slow? Opera has Mouse Gestures which are faster and simpler.
- Switching between browser windows, with a wheel mouse you just need to click and scroll to change windows.

Searching
- Google is available in the tool bar.
- Configurable search engines for new windows.

Other
- Address completion
- Masquerade as another browser (just in case a popular portal site decides to block all of their competitors)
- And I am just getting started.....

So I am sure somebody out there is wondering, With all these features why is Opera only third in market share?

Opera is a much smaller company the Microsoft or AOL/TW/CNN/Netscape/... and in the past was only available as shareware. With the release of Opera version 5 earlier this year it is now supported by a small banner ad, or you can purchase the program to deactivate the banner ads. Opera even has academic discounts.

So, anyone have any suggestions for what to review next week? If so, let me know.

 

Operating System: Windows, Linux/Solaris, Macintosh, OS/2

BMT Micro Catalog:

$39.00