Opera

• Opera
• Version: 8.50
• System Requirements: Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
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Opera, by Opera Software, is what some people might call an alternative Web browser. That is to say, that it's an alternative to Internet Explorer and Netscape. It claims to be super-fast and from using it I'd have to say they were right! Not only that, but it looks good too. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a big fan of flexibility. I always have been, way back to the beginning. I've always felt that users should be able to configure options of a program to suit themselves and that the program should be flexible enough to allow that. Well, Opera is the embodiment of that idea. It let me layout the Web browser like I wanted to! And what a joy that was. I'm so tired of (ahem) other people deciding how I should use their software on my computer! So, Opera was immediately on my good side.

Opera is highly configurable. It can use the increasingly popular skins, so if you want a new look for awhile, it's easy to do. And there's a skin collection on the Opera home page. The program has a cool feature called the Wand that will remember your logins to Web sites if you want. If you like having more than one window open at the same time, no problem. Want your toolbar on the left side? That's fine too. Opera also comes with a complete e-mail system that you can use right from the browser. You can maneuver using "mouse gestures" which I find very cool. It can also keep track of your personal information for filling in forms. And, at the same time, it also provides you with a way to delete personal information, like the browser's history. There's just so much you can do. In fact, Opera is really so very flexible and configurable that I don't even have room to tell you about all the things you can do with it.

Opera, by Opera Software ASA, is really all the authors claim about it and a whole lot more. It's fast and I mean really fast. It's flexible in a way I've never seen a Web browser be before. It utilizes skins so you can change the look, and it gives you just countless configurable options. At the same time, it abides by all standards. It takes up an amazingly small amount of disk space and that makes it perfect for your laptop too. There are even versions of Opera for your phone or PDA. After twenty years of evaluating software, I don't tend to get impressed very easily, but Opera is certainly impressive. So, not only is it a Dr. File Finder's Pick, it's also a Dr. File Finder Favorite! I've used lots of other alternative browsers, but this is a Web browser that YOU need to try. If you're going to surf the Web, surf it while riding the best, and this is it!

Michael E. Callahan, known around the world by the trademarked name "Dr. File Finder," is regarded as the world's leading expert on shareware. Dr. File Finder works with software programs and developers full-time, and in the average year he evaluates 10,000 programs. Since 1982 he has evaluated over 220,000 software and hardware products. He is an active member of the shareware community and a co-founder of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Mr. Callahan is an honorary member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP), the President of the Educational Software Cooperative and the chairman of the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation. Dr. File Finder is also a recipient of the 1993 Shareware Industry Award for lifetime achievement and has been inducted into the ASP Hall of Fame. Mr. Callahan began evaluating software online in 1982 and no one has been at it longer. He currently works doing online PR and marketing for software companies through "Dr. File Finder Online Marketing and Promotion" and is the Manager of Editorial Content on Tucows.