On November 13, Opera Software released the latest version of their Opera for Windows browser, Opera 6 Beta 1. This is, by far, the best version of the browser I've used. Every time I end up using Internet Explorer (usually for my school's web mail account, grrr), I'm struck by how difficult it is to use compared to Opera. Opera Software just keeps making the browser better and better. Microsoft is looking at some real competition here.
If you haven't used Opera yet, give it a whirl when the final version of Opera 6 for Windows is released. The current beta has a couple of issues that need to be ironed out before it's really usable as an alternative to Internet Explorer.
Just so you know what you can look forward to, Opera is small, quick, and feature packed. The browser is MDI-based, so you can open multiple browsing windows without filling up your taskbar or wasting system resources. Opera allows you to open documents in the background, making it easy to keep track of interesting links while not losing your place on the current page.
Another virtue of Opera is its security-oriented features. The user interface allows you to easily control popups, cookies, and Javascript. While Internet Explorer has suffered heaps of security issues, the first security issue in Opera was found just last week.
Of course, Opera does have its weak points. Opera can run into difficulty displaying some pages due to it's strict adherence to HTML and CSS specifications. Netscape 4.x, Mozilla, and Internet Explorer are all much more relaxed in this area. Opera also lacks a full implementation of DOM, an interface allowing dynamic restructuring of a web page after it's been loaded.
For more reviews, check out the following pages:
- CNet.com User Reviews
- A Web Design Community's Review -- thanks for defending Opera, Scott
- BetaNews.com User Reviews
- A Pro-Microsoft Community's Review
You can also read the Opera press release about Opera 6 beta 1. For a more biased opinion on the new Opera, check out Brett Tabke's Opera 6 tour.
All I ask is that you give it a try once the final version of Opera 6 is released (I'll let you know, don't worry). It might just change the way you use the Internet!
