Opera: The Pros

Opera's browser is light-weight and well-built. The download and program size is much smaller than IE, and it offers multiple ways to improve the speed. It's newest version, 10.00, is the fastest yet. The Opera browser now offers a Turbo mode that compresses pictures as webpages load, which is perfect for dial-up and poor wifi connection users. Even high speed services can benefit from faster page loading at times. This browser is, and has been, considered one of the most secure browsers available. Opera has the unique advantage of being little known. Virus and hacking threats and techniques that are made to attack personal computers are targeted towards the most used browser: Internet Explorer. Since Opera is lesser known, it is safe from the majority of attacks.

Some of the new unique features you cannot find on Internet Explorer include visual tabs (changing the tabs into thumbnails of webpages, also, a preview of the site available when hovered over), and a moveable tab bar (can be moved the the left, right, or bottom of the page). Speed dial, a growing popular feature for browsers is a long time feature that has yet to be available on Internet Explorer. Speed dial is a page that opens with a new tab or can be set to open in place of a home page. It offers thumbnails (now in customizable numbers and other option) of favorite websites for one-click access. There are a large variety of features and benefits that would be difficult to discuss every one, but Opera by far highly exceeds in being customizable and convenient.

As far as speed and security, Opera, like any browser has these issues as a top priority and continually improves these areas. Opera has a the benefit of being little known and therefore has less security threats to overcome. When it comes to improving speed, Opera takes the cake. Not only have they had a long standing feature to handle image loading for faster speeds (and security), Opera now offers the "Turbo Mode" which is excellent for dial-up and other slow connections. Its a compression tool that chows down on page loading time. You can even set it up to automatically detect slow connections and turn on when needed! This is far beyond where any browser has tread.

Opera: The Cons

Quite simply, IE is integrated with the operating system. It's already installed on the computer, so your computer will download the latest version, patches, and any other related tool for you, providing you use automatic updates. Opera is a separate company, so downloading is necessary. For slow connections, downloading this program could be difficult and you may have problems getting it downloaded.

Also, Opera is simply different. People who do not need many bells and whistles and don't use the Internet very often may not see the need for another browser or all of it's features. Handy helpful shortcuts may simply be a confusing hassle to someone who is not accustomed to new features, like mouse gestures (allows you to move forward, back, open new tabs, etc., by clicking and moving the mouse).

In all, Opera is perfect for people who need a faster browser and use the Internet and computers frequently. They will have no problems using or downloading Opera and may prefer it to Internet Explorer for some of the features listed here, and others. Internet Explorer continues to do well to be a solid, user-friendly browser for amateur users and those who don't want to change to another.