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Tuesday, October 11, 2005 8:16 PM PT Posted by Harry McCracken
Opera: It's Getting More Popular, Too
Random factoid: Over past week, six percent of visitors to PCWorld.com have been using Opera (almost exclusively version 8). That may not sound like much given that 65 percent were using IE 6 and a shade under 20 percent were running Firefox. But it's well over twice the percentage that Opera got one year before, and about 50 percent higher than the stats for two months ago.Back on September 20th, Opera went totally free, and the company reported a 400 percent increase in downloads. But that move doesn't seem to be responsible for Opera's growing popularity among PCWorld.com users, since it was running at about six percent usage earlier in September, too.
Back in early 2004, before the browser war broke out again, Opera had less than 1.5 percent market share, and Netscape was the only non-Microsoft browser to claim more than that, with a bit over 6 percent. Today, only a little over 1 percent of visitors use a browser that calls itself Netscape...but of course, a Netscapian heart beats within Firefox.
Firefox went from zero percent usage among PCWorld.com users to 20 percent in remarkably little time...and it's maintained that 20 percent (sometimes a little higher or lower) for the past few months. Wonder how far past six percent Opera might get...and whether IE 7, once it arrives, will convince anyone who's left IE to come back?
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Im sure Opera 8 is good, but I already went through the minor hassle of getting used to Firefox, and Im really happy with it. I don't see any reason to switch (at least not until Firefox starts getting hit with more exploits).
I imagine most people feel the same way.
I use both Opera 8.5 and Firefox. Horses for courses - Opera lacks the range extensions I find essential on some sites (like AdBlock); Firefox can't do full zoom (text and images) as well as Opera.
But will SpywareBlaster add a section to protect Opera?
I'm using Opera. So far, i love it's functionalty, mouse gestures, skinning, tabs. I moved from firefox to Opera. Too bad opera does not support extensions.
Before Opera went free, I believe it began actually identifying itself as Opera in its User Agent string (prior to that it was identified as Internet Explorer). This is probably the reason you saw the jump...
using opera since v.4.xx ..... wow that's more than 5 years....
I have installed all major (and some less known) for testing purposes, but opera is still a browser of choice when going on-line.
In response to the first post, you don't actually have to "switch." I have both Firefox and Opera installed and love them both. I take advantage of the best features of both by using one for some sites and the other on other sites. It can't hurt to try.
I agree with Dandellion. My first online experience was with using Opera :) . I don't bother anymore explaining people why to use Opera... simply, those who stick with firefox don't know what are functionality and simplicity at all!
I've been using Opera since... 1990? 2000? I love it. It has the most elegant interface. I love having email and browser all in one client. The only thing I would change is to add a better address book. Please!
I myself switched from FF to Opera. I couldn't be happier. It runs alot faster...atleast on my machine. It just looks and feels better IMO.
I'm using Opera v8 and like it alot, but I am annoyed with javascript errors on several websites I regularly go to, like tvguide.com and scifi.com. I'm now considering Firefox.
Another thing I like about Opera is its integrated RSS reader which is a helluva lot better than Live Bookmarks, IMO.
Big deal. I love Opera once. That was when Netscape and Mozilla were bloated and IE was, well, IE. It was well-featured, very clean and simple, and blazing fast, especially on slower computers. But certain bugs with it eventually started plaguing me. When Firefox 1.0 came out, it was love at first sight and haven't looked back since. There is no other browser that is as clean and versatile as Firefox. The "keep it simple stupid" mentality the developers have and the available extensions see to that. You can make it into whatever you want it to be. Opera is a decent browser, similar to Firefox in many ways, but it lacks the open customization that makes Firefox so powerful. Personally I could care less about those stupid statistics they come up with about browser market-share. Firefox is the best browser I've ever used, and I'm not switching.
The day Opera implements client-side XSLT, I'll think about it. I use XML loads in my free webspace, so their reply of "Can't you transform server-side" is no help. Maybe one day...
Opera will add client-side XSLT in Opera 9. There's a preview build available, not sure when it will be released.
The preview build has just been released. Download it at the following url:
http://snapshot.opera.com/
i have both firefox and opera and im content with the both thats it im selfish cuz im not giving either one up
Extensions make firefox better than opera.