Virtually Positive Blog

Opera Web Browser might not be among the most popular, but it is among the oldest.

Opera contains most of the popular features as other web browsers, including tabbed browsing, mouse gestures, themes, extensions (although they’re called widgets) and a bookmark manager.

One of the most obvious differences between Opera and the rest of the browsers (except Seamonkey) is that it also includes a built-in email and newsgroup client.

Starting with version 9.2, opera was among the first browsers to include Speed Dial. In the past, web browsers when you opened them loaded one of two things: either a blank page (why?) or, more commonly, the start page or home page. But, with Speed Dial, you are presented with a series of boxes that contain links to various websites (along with screenshots). You can control which links appear here.

Another feature that sets Opera apart from its competition is a trash can. In a way, it works like the Windows Recycle Bin, except it keeps a list of blocked pop-up windows and the addresses from tabs that were previously closed …great if you need to open that tab you accidentally closed, or if it blocked a pop-up window that you actually wanted to open.

Another feature, while not unique to Opera is definitely unique in the way it works is a feature called Panels. Like a side-bar, Panels can appear on the side of your browser window. There’s a panel for mail, as well as ones for bookmarks, history, contacts, and even notes, just to name a few.

Opera can also be run without loading graphics. While this can be good, especially for people with dial-up access to the internet, there are numerous cases where the text in graphics might be needed. (For example – a graphical menu of places to visit or certain flash based content.) It is easy to turn this on and off, though – so if you suddenly find yourself needing graphics one can easily change the setting and reload the page.