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- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98
- Date added: September 20, 2005
- Total Downloads: 7,879,467
- Downloads last week: 12,203
- See full specifications
A newer version of Opera is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 2807 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
The premise of Opera has always been the same: Develop the fastest, smallest, and most full-featured browser available. Opera maintains the tradition with its latest version. Offering unprecedented speed and low memory usage, Opera is still embarrassing the big browsers by loading most Web pages in a fraction of the time they use.
In addition to fine-tuning speed and performance, the browser includes support for bidirectional languages such as Arabic and Hebrew, a slide-show feature for Web-based photos, and an option that allows users of the free, ad-sponsored version to receive either text-based ads served by Google or generic graphical ads. Other features sweeten the deal, such as spatial navigation, a built-in e-mail client with spam parameters, and IRC chat support. As always, Opera continues to offer good-quality encryption and other security measures.
Although Opera's default interface wastes space with redundant tools that visually overpower the browser window, it is wholly customizable. Skins let you change the browser's look to suit your preferences. Anyone looking at alternate browsers should check out Opera, the leader of the pack.
Publisher's description
From Opera Software :Opera 8.5 is now free. Opera has eliminated the ad banner and license fee completely. It has a pop-up blocker, multiple-window navigation, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, an e-mail client with a spam filter, and integrated search for user security and speed. The cross-platform browser includes IRC-compatible chat, support for RSS newsfeeds, a password manager, and one-click customization and privacy-protection settings. Mouse gestures and keyboard shortcuts allow for accelerated Web navigation while the Fast Forward and Rewind buttons easy browsing. Users can run multiple windows as well as personalize the user interface with one-click skins. The browser also contains special elements for users with disabilities, drag-and-drop support, a notes function, user profiles, and a host of other features. Opera supports the latest in security and provides password and cookie managers.
Version 8.5 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.
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User reviews of Opera 8.5
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 2807 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 237 user reviewsSee all 237 user reviews
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114 out of 140 people found this review helpful
Version: Opera 8.5
Pros: Pros: Opera 8.5 is the fastest browser I have ever used. This new version of Opera leaves FireFox and IE far behind in the dust. I can't say enough good things,except try it yourself-It's FREE. 5 BIG Stars and TWO thumbs WAY UP!
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27 out of 31 people found this review helpful
Version: Opera 8.5
"Opera finally breaks old stigma!"
Pros: Its certainly the most polished browser product available on the net and the list of believers is growing by the day. With a shot across the bow between the classic Internet Explorer and the world domination of Firefox - Opera has positioned itself by removing the omnipotent advert window and the $29 price tag deterring many a user away from this browser. Personally, I do believe that Opera is gearing up for a major shift from Shareware capabilities to Freeware by launching the 8.50 version. Mark my words - either this will catapult them into a new realm of popularity or will ultimately result in the grinding halt in the style of NeoPlanet. It is truly unfortunate for all the folks who dished out $29 for it in the last quarter but then the redeeming factor for them would be the support. (Not that you might need it!)The product is stable and remains a mainstay in my browser arsenal. Highly recommended!!!
Cons: The Support Fee will deter the faint of heart or the scrooges but I must say that its well worth the investment.
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13 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Version: Opera 8.5
Pros: Theres just no reasn not to use Opera! now 100% FREE !!! No crack needed, no need to pay, no banners. 100% Customizable, safe and easy to browse.
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11 out of 25 people found this review helpful
Version: Opera 8.5
"The best browser around, my favorite!"
Pros: I've been using this browser ever since version 7.60. I really like the Opera community. They provide a lot of skins, setups, and other stuff for this app there. There are lots of sleek skins for this app, like the ShadowGuard. Opera is a bit complex, but novice users would have the ability to take over the advantages this app provides. It has a REALLY fast browsing speed, download speed, and upload speed. The download manager of this app is really impressive. Opera also has a lot of features. It has an e-mail client, voice recognition, built-in notepad, advanced bookmark manager, and lots more to discover. With all those features, it only has an installer size of 3.6MB. For these features, I would expect a size of 5MB or more. What's great is that now, in version 8.50, they made the program free! No more AD banners! But still, I would donate to this browser. It deserves the praise a lot. Get it now!
Cons: The program takes up about 40MB of RAM or more when there are a lot of pages open. Though this doesn't bother me because I have 1GB of RAM, it affects my testing machine with 256MB a lot. It slows me down a bit, and less memory requirement would make me happy.
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16 out of 24 people found this review helpful
Version: Opera 8.5
Pros: - very nice, clean interface
- very fast
- has many built-in features
- very customizable
- can install themes
Cons: - a bit hard to get used to for first time users
- is incompatible with A LOT of webpages
- does not have external extensions that can be installed
- See all 237 user reviews Write review
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