CNET Editors' review
Opera 9.61 maintains the program's tradition of striving for the fastest, smallest, and most full-featured browser available. Opera covers the basics with tabbed browsing, mouse-over previews, a customizable search bar, advanced bookmarking tools, and simple integration with e-mail and chat clients. Mouse-gesture support, keyboard shortcuts, and drag-and-drop functionality round out the essentials.
Opera's extras push it to the top of the class. Integrated theme support previews themes from within the interface, and the new version sports a default redo that's an attractive balance between "dark" and "light" themes. Opera's desktop widgets can appear anywhere while Opera is running. The Wand utility combines autofill with saved passwords, and it's hard to ignore the addition of torrent support and real-time fraud protection. The latest version includes reasonable anti-malware protection courtesy Haute Secure.
The expanded features in 9.61 should make any non-believer do a double-take. Opera Link enables Bookmarks, the Personal bar, Speed Dial, and Notes synchronization across all other Opera instances. Quick Find improves the search tool, allowing for full text searching from the address field, the history panel, and opera:historysearch. The Status bar has been restored as a default, the Wand now lets users confirm a successful login before saving credentials, and spatial navigation--similar to Opera Mini and the Wii browser--has been introduced.
The new version is faster, has multiple back-end changes to handle code better, and expands Opera Link synchronization. We think Opera has what it takes to unseat even the biggest-name browsers. You just need to hear it sing.
Watch the CNET video review of Opera:
Publisher's Description
From Opera Software:
Opera 9.6 expands Opera Link, allowing you to synchronize your custom search engines and typed history between different versions of Opera 9.6 and Opera Mini. RSS Reader now previews feeds, enabling you to see a feed before subscribing to it. Opera Mail has useful new features including ignoring and following email threads and managing emails faster in low bandwidth mode. Speed has also improved, meaning you can browse faster than ever. Opera 9.61 is a recommended security upgrade.
What's new in this version: Opera 9.61 is a recommended security upgrade.
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All versions:
4.4 starsout of 3,573 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 25 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Functionally cooperative, a browser expedites work time"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
1. Tabs,
2. Auto log-in works
3. The choice of returning to the last sessions tabs, helps in conformity in work (no searching for sites used everyday)
4. Speed-dial a great companion for mothly banking & other chores in one place
LOVE it!Cons
When system crashes, a reinstall does not contain personal info only that you have an account no browser info or history. ANNOYING! Opera?s web site has and area for retaining bk marks, but the entry process is tedious.
Summary
Best browser features and performance available today. Mozilla cannot compare, but is a better backup browser than MSN, IE or Chrome (still hinkie).
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"An Underwhelming Web Browser..."
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
Speed Dial, tabbed windows.
Cons
Frequent crashes. Changes made are not easily undone. Rather hokey home page.
This is my third try in 4 years to use the Opera as an alternative to Firefox. I remain steadfast in my unfavorable view of this browser.Summary
Firefox 3, Avant and Safari are user friendly, fast and secure web browsers.
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"best web browser out there"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
faster then any browser you can think of!!!
Cons
not as much addons as firefox 2 or 3 (i think firefox 3 is wierd)
Summary
fastest browser i have ever used but i would have to say for now firefox 2 is my fav.
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"A Good Basic Browser"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
This program has good browsing speed, a nice basic interface, and good security.
Cons
This browser has only basic browsing tools; customization was standard.
Summary
This is a good but basic web browser. I would recommend IE7 or FF3 (and also Google's Chrome.) The speed was good, security was good, and customization standard.
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"Good but not great"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
Faster than firefox and IE; speed dial; ability to add some search engines such as inquisitor not in presets and certain other features which cannot be used in safari
Cons
Not as fast as safari, not as feature friendly as firefox (if I want to do serious playing with the
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"Love It!!!"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
I have an old system- windows 2000 and was using IE 6, since Microsoft doesn't support any further updates. I downloaded Opera last night and it has been pure pleasure. CNET review of Opera is as advertised! It is very easy to use.
Cons
Doesn't allow for importation of Yahoo bookmarks. I would like the option of spell check for postings on web sites (Google toolbar offers this). Also, email doesn't offer folder option to organize saved emails, as far as I can tell.
Summary
Overall, the cons are minor when compared with the entire product.
I really like the mail option- very easy to set up (I now import from yahoo) and I like the box that opens on the left of the currrent screen you are on that lets you view email summary. Also like the toolbar that allows you to put frequently visited web sites within easy reach. The security is much enhanced- important for websites such as YouTube that continually recommended upgrading from IE6. The tile option quicly gives you a divided screen for all open tabs, which is great if you are going between websites, say, for cutting and pasting info.
Despite my old OS, the browser is very quick. This contrasts with Firefox 3, which was VERY slow on my system.
I could go on, but hopefully you get the gist. There are still some options that I haven't learned about yet. Just love it and I highly recommend it! I actually created an account here just so I could give my feedback on this product. -
"What happened????"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
all the pro's as listed elsewhere.
Cons
I've been using Opera for 3 years. Now version 9.6 is out I cannot do my online banking any more. No point having great security, anti phishing etc etc if I can't use my Bank's website. Having to use Firefox 3. YUK!!!
Summary
See Cons
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"it makes browsing much easier."
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
it reduces the number of time jone have to click on the mouse switching from one age to another on like in micrsoft internet explorer.
Cons
well everything good has its own bad part,it basic things is that the loading power that it's surppose to have to open a site or web page is'nt to strong.
Summary
well it's good enough for a reasonable human being.
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"The Best of the bests"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
Stable, fast and full of features, user-friendly
Cons
Nothing to claim
Summary
Many useful features, like mouse gestures, voice navigation, widgets, fraud detection, tabbed browsing, bookmark synchronization, notes synchronization (with Opera Mini or Opera in other computers), speed dial...
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"I like it.Grows on you"
Version: Opera 9.61
Pros
I like opera's speed
Cons
I am lost without my Roboform toolbar
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