Need a replacement browser now (contains semi-naughty language)

[az]

Nowhere is it smaller - and if you consider that Opera has more features and an e-mail client, the difference becomes even bigger.
Opera 7 had its performance problems, but 7.20 has improved on that a lot, and it's by far the fastest browser I know. I have no problems viewing chinese or korean websites (though I do have trouble reading them ), and 7.20 has a lot of right-to-left language fixes.

Jon, a few performance tips:

- View -> Skin -> "Special Effects" off (won't be much faster, but feels a lot faster to me)
- http://my.opera.com/customize/skins/ (I like Blues-M7)
- if you have a broadband connection, Preferences (alt+p) -> Network -> increase Max connections (I have mine set to 128 both, and notice no problems - had them at 16 and 32 before, I believe)
- Preferences -> History and Cache -> increase Disk cache (have mine at 100 MB now - 400 seemed slower to me, but 4 was definately not enough)

AZ

[dbdg]

I like Internet Explorer.

Don't like those alternative browsers.

[Gurm]

IE has... issues.

I just wish the popup blocking for Opera would get as good as PopupCop... I still have to surf the "questionable" sites with IE.

- Gurm

[The PIT]

IE works with every site I go too. Something that can't be said for Opera, Mozilla. I just use those at work for confirm whether websites work or not. More often than not it's the browser thats either out of date or just has problems.

[Gurm]

No, more often than not, it's that people are using IE-only code.

IE has the WORST CSS compliance of any browser. And when those ActiveX controls don't auto-install anymore, IE is suddenly gonna be a LOT less attractive.

- Gurm

[az]

Which is actually a good thing. They could fix PNG while they're at it.

AZ

[Technoid]

Originally posted by az
Which is actually a good thing. They could fix PNG while they're at it.

AZ

I won't hold my breath

[thop]

IE is still the best, say what you want. Firebird is second, but its render engine is just not good enough for me. Opera ... well is Opera

[Jon P. Inghram]

Where the heck is 7.21? I could only see 7.20 on Opera's site.

[bsdgeek]

Originally posted by Gurm
No, more often than not, it's that people are using IE-only code.

IE has the WORST CSS compliance of any browser. And when those ActiveX controls don't auto-install anymore, IE is suddenly gonna be a LOT less attractive.

- Gurm

Indeed.

[az]

7.21 is not final yet, RC2 is out, but I think there will at least be an RC3 before the final. I guess we'll see the final early next week.

AZ

[az]

Correction: I've just seen they've posted RC3, seems to be good so far. So I guess 7.21 final will come this week. After that, 7.30 and then... world domination

AZ

PS: postcount++;

[Nowhere]

Originally posted by az [B]
"Nowhere is it smaller..." (?)

Well, if things come to that you're asking me - it ISN'T. You see az, Opera is cheating you - they're using Aspack, executables compressor. When I use it on Firebird, it becomes much smaller also - smaller than Opera. And probably this is from where the "myth" of speedy Opera came in great part - you see, when compressed with Aspack (or upx, doesn't matter...) programs load noticeably faster (with the cost of a bit more ram used).

So in best case Opera isn't telling whole truth to you, in worst - lying.

But overall pretty handy browser (unfortuantelly interface is just TERRIBLE to me)...definetely would be better if people would use it instead of IE. But it's not the smallest...and fastest? would be hard to measure...

[az]

Well, why doesn't Firebird use Aspack then? Actually, size doesn't matter (I keep telling myself ), since we have broadband and big harddrives. What matters is speed (nothing touches O 7.20 here) and usability. The latter is a matter of personal taste to a great extent, and I happen to like Opera better
Mind you, I might not have liked it if my first Opera version would have been 7 with its HORRIBLE default skin - but my first Opera version (and I have not strayed from it since) was 3.62
About the terrible interface: You can customize it a lot. Choose another skin (easiest skin handling I've ever come across), disable special effects, choose a color scheme if you want, change button size, change toolbar positions or switch them off, rearrange buttons and fields to your liking... really, you can't say you dislike Opera's interface, because if you want, you can make it look like IE or even NS 4.7 (urgh...).

AZ

[Nowhere]

Then we agree that talking "Opera is the smallest" is little...bs?
And why Firebird doesn't use it - simple: Aspack isn't free. But upx is...Firebird doesn't use it nonethless - for various reasons (best would be to search for upx on mozillazine forums...few you've mentioned). Speed...as I said hard to measure, highy subjective - and it's difficult to talk about positive speed experience when interface causes me to almost vomit when I use it Seriously, I just feel there's spomething terribly wrong with it, mostly unusuable to me. And I'm not talking about skins (I don't use them anywhere anyway), just overall feel.
Usability...yes, personal taste. And don't forget maaany extensions.


zima