Opera Now Free for a Day!

or so

[mm1220]

Note: For one day only, you can get an ad-free version of Opera. Simply e-mail [e-mail] to obtain a registration code. This offer is valid from 12 a.m. Tuesday, August 30 to 12 a.m. Wednesday, August 31 2005 (PDT).

From download.com

[bhonda]

Hey all,
I think what Opera's done here is really clever - like some of you I've obviously heard of Opera, but never actually given it a proper look, because, well why would I if I already had IE and FF to play around with? But since I heard about the free registration code, I investigated a little, because I'm always on the lookout for free stuff! I still don't have Internet at home (stupid ISPs) and there really isn't a need to use Opera at work, so I can't actually have a play around with it yet anyway, but I've got me a code for when I finally DO get the Internet at home. From reading this post alone, I'm actually quite intrigued as to how I'll find it...who knows....I may turn into an Opera fan after all!
I'm guessing that this free code will not be applicable to newer versions of Opera, but if it turns out to be something I like, I will seriously consider forking out a bit for this browser (or wait until their 18th birthday!). Looks like their plan is working. Go Opera!
B

[D_Blackwell]

ditto here, there are many reasons to buy a product when an alternative free one is available.

Kinda like WebmasterWorld.

[RammsteinNicCage]

GaryK

2) Why do the Dictionary and Encyclopedia links seem to take me to a website that offers neither a Dictionary or an Encyclopedia? Is there some way to customize which site I'm taken to for each of these items? Is there a way to add multiple Dictionaries and Encyclopedias? What about translations?

There is a program called OpSed that makes editing the search.ini file easier.

5) Is there a way to do local HTML and CSS validation like you can do with the WebDeveloper toolbar?

I'm not sure if this is what you want since you said local, but do a search for the W3-dev menu. As a side note, there was also a menu created for WebmasterWorld, but I can't seem to find it anymore....

Jennifer

[createErrorMsg]

they broke position:bottom

That's not broken; it doesn't exist! ;)

Why buy a browser when so many other browsers are available for free? Just how much success can you expect to have charging for something that is otherwise free? I mean, what's next, bottled wa...t...er...?

Oh.

[bill]

5) Is there a way to do local HTML and CSS validation like you can do with the WebDeveloper toolbar?

No need for a toolbar in Opera...this has been built-in for years:

Ctrl + Alt + V

That will send the current page's HTML to a validator.

However if you want the toolbar:
Web Developer Toolbar & Menu for Opera 8 [nontroppo.org]

As a side note, there was also a menu created for WebmasterWorld, but I can't seem to find it anymore....

WebmasterWorld sidebar and menus for Opera [tanfa.co.uk]

[keyplyr]

Installed the mico web-dev toolbar, but can't get the features to "un-gray". Also, there is no un-install link. Anyone know how to get rid of it?

[GaryK]

Ctrl + Alt + V
That will send the current page's HTML to a validator.

Does this package up the page and send it off for validation in the same way the WebDeveloper extension for Firefox does? If so that's great.

Web Developer Toolbar & Menu for Opera 8

I'll give it a try.

Cookies are still driving me crazy. I eventually gave up and told Opera to accept all first-parry cookies and refuse all third-party cookies. That's because it seemed as if some sites would attempt to set the same cookie repeatedly even after I told it to refuse all cookies from that domain and/or server.

BTW, I found a panel that displays the bookmarks the way I like them; a la IE and Fx. Is there a way to make one folder close when you open another folder?

Thanks for your tips. I'll spend some more time with Opera tonight.

I did notice it used a lot less memory and seemed to load pages faster. It handles the CSS I use in my sites just fine. I think I like the Wand.

If Opera does a better job for me than Fx or IE I won't mind paying for it. I'm sort of used to buying quality software. Fx is more of an anomaly for me in that regard than it apparently is for other folks.

Thanks again.

[netchicken1]

I have used opera for years and love it, but I was nearly attracted away to firefox recently by the awesome Adblock feature.

[bill]

I was nearly attracted away to firefox recently by the awesome Adblock feature.

Traitor! ;)
You do know that there are several flavors of Adblock for Opera [nontroppo.org] as well, don't you?

[Hester]

they broke position:bottom

That's not broken; it doesn't exist!

That's what I thought until I saw it in the official specs.

[createErrorMsg]

That's what I thought until I saw it in the official specs.

Do you mean these specs [w3.org]?

From the above link, and just for clarity...

'position'
Value: static ¦ relative ¦ absolute ¦ fixed ¦ inherit
Initial: static
Applies to: all elements
Inherited: no
Percentages: N/A
Media: visual
Computed value: as specified

The CSS "position" property takes a value of static, relative, absolute, fixed, or inherit. There is a seperate "bottom" property, but it is used in conjunction with position:absolute or position:relative, and takes it's own numerical value.

cEM

[balam]

I already have Opera 7.x installed - is anyone aware of any multiple-install issues? Best to remove 7, then install 8?

[Moby_Dim]

balam, simply install 8 in it's own dir. I have 7.54 as my primary/default version since it was released (I like it) along with 8 for a couple of months. No problems at all.

[balam]

Much thanks, Moby_Dim!

[Hester]

Do you mean these specs?

Oops, yeah.

[Stefan]

I took advantage of the free registration, spent some time with it, and I'm not impressed, (I've used it in the past, with the annoying ad banners, etc, but never a lot, mostly just to check my own pages). It's a bit smoother than Firefox, (scrolling, back to previous page, a few other things), but no Flashblock? No Adblock? It's taking me three times as long to dl pages on my dial-up, and I feel like I have no real control over the thing. The toolbars are ridiculous. If there's a way to easily open a second tab, I can't find it, (with Firefox, I have a little yellow cross at the top, no dicking around, just click it). My Firefox skin is Littlefox, and doesn't hog the screen on my relatively small monitor, and I like it very much.

I didn't read the whole thread, just checked it when it first showed up a few days ago, so excuse me if Adblock and Flashblock were addressed earlier. Anyway, Firefox remains my main browser, although I'll keep Opera, and I appreciate the free registration.

[mattglet]

F12 is your friend... hit it.

As for a new tab: I might be wrong, but doesn't it come defaulted with a "New Page" button? I might have added it via Toolbar customization a long time ago... either way...
Go to Tools --> Appearance --> Buttons tab --> Browser --> drag the "New" button onto your toolbar and VOILA! A button that supplies new tabs.

and I feel like I have no real control over the thing

That's kind of a surprising statement, as I sometimes feel I have TOO MUCH control over the thing. Scout out your Preferences & Appearances. Also, go back to the post in this thread with the "30 Days with Opera" (I forget what it's actually called) link. Power over the browser beyond your wildest dreams, IMO.

[instinct]

For those of you complaining about the speed (lack thereof) of Firefox. Try downloading the Deer Park Alpha (Deer Park is the codename for the upcoming Firefox 1.5 release).

A few extensions don't work with it yet (on first run it will automagically warn you and disable the offending extensions), and there are the occassional glitches, but the enormous speed increase more than makes up for it (IMHO).

Just install Deer Park in a seperate install dir from your regular FF install and the two can happily co-exist if you happen to run into any problems.

Deer Park runs FAST-AS-HECK under OSX and reportedly has significant improvements in Windows as well.

PS. Not meaning to steal any Opera thunder because it's a great browser as well - I just can't live without my extensions.

[Stefan]

Thanks Matt. That takes care of the New Page button. I should have known it was something very simple. Now, Flashblock. Is there an Opera extension somewhere for that? I like the browser, but the flash has got to go - well at least give me the choice. I do click for the flash sometimes on certain sites, but generally I don't want it dancing around on my monitor.

[bill]

Now, Flashblock. Is there an Opera extension somewhere for that?

No need for an extension...Opera has had that feature built in for quite some time as well. All you need is to toggle the ever-handy

F12

menu and you can instantly toggle JavaScript, Java and Plug-ins. I run with the plug-ins off, so the annoying Flash and Shockwave ads don't catch me out.

[Stefan]

Ahh - disable/enable plug-ins. Very good. Ok, you guys are starting to convince me. I'm using it right now.

One thing I like very much about Opera is that F11 gives you a true full-screen.

[Hester]

The true fullscreen allows for slideshows (Powerpoint-style presentations). Sadly it often loses the styles on a page (unless the author has deliberately added a media style of "projection").

[Josk]

> (Opera has) No Adblock?

I run my web connection through JunkBuster. It works as proxy run removes ads before the browser has a chance to render the... I haven't seen a banner ad for ages... Are people still using them...?

[Hester]

Hey everyone, there's a great list of Opera equivalents to Firefox extensions [virtuelvis.com] worth reading. Many people (even Opera users) just don't know how powerful the program really is.

[tedster]

It just occurred to me that many folks may not realize this. Opera's Chief Technical Officer is Håkon Lie, who used to work for the W3C and in 1994 was the man who proposed CSS to that organization. He also issued the "Acid2 challenge [news.com.com]" to Microsoft, to help push them towards a more interoperable browser in IE7.

On leaving the W3C for Opera, he wrote:

In April 1999 I joined Opera Software to make sure there's more than one browser on the Web.

[mrMister]

He's a hypocrite when it comes to the Acid2 test.

Opera has released multiple successive versions which each fail the Acid2 Test with different success rates.

His advice to Microsoft however is to fix CSS in one go and not release any builds that are not fully compliant!

[victor]

Opera are clearly working on it -- see the screenshots on the opera watch website.

Whereas Microsoft has said: "I'll go ahead and relieve the suspense by saying we will not pass this test when IE7 ships." (ieblog 2005-07-29)

One product team working on it. One not. And the workers are hypocrits....interesting definition, that.

[Robin_reala]

Tedster - the Acid2 test wasn't issued to Microsoft, but to the browser development community in general (which includes Opera).

[tedster]

Yes, my wording is ambiguous, Robin -- the Acid2 test was definitely not created just for Microsoft but for all browsers.

To get my intended meaning, see the link I posted. In that article at cNet, Lie publicly challenged Microsoft to pass the Acid2 test. In other words, I was trying to say he is not just a tecchie but also and activist for standards, but my words missed their mark.

[Rimpy]

Not an opera fan ....