I don't remember reading any comparisons with the inclusion of Opera in there. My history with Opera is a short one. I first tried it several years ago when IE was very much the dominant web browser. Back then, Opera didn't appeal to me as much...mostly due to its inability to display all web content properly. With the advent of Opera 9, much of that has changed. I've been testing it out for the past week or 2, and it's a brilliant browser. One of the best features it packs is its browser identity option for specific web pages. If it doesn't render a page correctly, simply tell it to announce itself as another browser and viola!
Opera is a great browser. However, Firefox still displays web content better, generally speaking, even though Opera has a 1 up on Firefox with browser identity switching. I honestly think that if Firefox put that feature into their browser, it would hands down be the best thing out there. It's a wonder Mozilla hasn't done this yet seeing as how Opera isn't the only browser out there to offer this feature (check some of the built in browsers in linux distros).
In my experience, Firefox displays web content faster than Opera as well. One thing that does bother me about Opera is the functionality of its tabbing feature. I can't bring up a page from a bookmark on the ''Personal Bar'' in the same tab without changing an option in the preferences menu.
Opera does, however, have the most built in features of all the web browsers. Firefox was able to compete with plug-ins, but some of those would crash the browser. This happened less times than more, but it still gives Opera the 1 up in this area. However, Firefox 2.0 may have taken care of much of this. Kudos to the Mozilla team for recognizing what they overlooked in Firefox 1.*
Again, I can't stress how much I really believe that Firefox needs to have a built in (not plug-in) browser identity switching feature. This would catapult it to the top...most assuredly. ARE YOU LISTENING MOZILLA?
I realize I didn't make much mention of IE7. Well, I'm not fond of it. I tried going to its ''plug-in'' page. It sucks. One of the plug-ins I installed crashed the browser constantly, AND I COULDN'T UNINSTALL IT! IE did give me the option to disable the plug-in, so I could use the browser normally, but what a headache for a less technically adept person.
I'm a real estate broker in NYC and I often use www.mlsstratus.com to help my business. I can't use Firefox for that site because they reject anything that's not IE. If the Stratus team is listening, CHANGE THAT! But it wouldn't be much of a problem if Firefox included the option to announce itself as IE. ARE YOU LISTENING MOZILLA? Currently, I have to use 2 browsers to get everything done. Opera doesn't do it all either. I have a website set up through 1and1.com (great hosting company). Their Web Builder software doesn't work at all when using Opera.
Thanx for reading. CNET, what say you concerning the matter? The people want to know. Heck, maybe I should be doing some reviews for you guys! Any open positions over there?
Look, I know FF2 (firefox 2) is good. I would never disagree with that. In a battle between IE and FF, Mozilla's creation should always win. However, I think there s a often overlooked browser out there. Opera takes everything you liked about either browser and gives you more. Like the look of IE? Great, we can do that. Like everything else about FF? Yeah, we ALREADY did that. Opera has been giving it's users choices and security since the beginning. The community that supports Opera steadily develops new plug-in, add-ons, and updates. When Opera 9 was first released it crushed it's competition and Opera has constantly set the bar for other browsers, even Firefox. Maybe some users are off-put by the technical abilities of Opera, or the sheer volume of choices in style and ability they can experience, but that shouldn't deter them.
Cnet, I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed. Rarely have I seen a review for most of the open source content I use, and that my companies run on. I'm not a fan of the big MS, so I look for the same functionality in opensource software. I think if the true pioneers of some of the best programs out there were rated in your reviews, more cutting edge opensource software would come out. I think in general, all of your editors do a good job, but can we shine a bit more light on those programs out there cutting the envelope of opensource and give them a review, hey good or bad, at least people will know what's out there!
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