Opera releases leaner, meaner Windows browser Printer Friendly Format

Zardon · Jan 28, 2003, 11:33 PM

Opera Software ASA released a new version of its Internet browser for the Windows operating systems, offering increased speed and features, as well as a slightly smaller download size than the previous version, thanks to rewritten code.

Opera 7, released Tuesday, offers a host of new innovations from the Oslo software maker, including a links panel that features all the links on a particular page, and a "fast forward" feature that takes users to the next page they are most likely to visit.

The latest version of the software also has what Opera is calling "spatial navigation," a feature that allows users to gain access to links and other navigational tools on a Web page by using the shift and arrow keys on their keyboards.

Additionally, Opera 7 boasts a one-click log-in feature to password protected sites, which it calls "the wand," a new navigation bar, the ability to easily download a new skin, or look, an updated e-mail client and small-screen rendering feature that allows Web developers to test and see how their pages will look on smaller mobile devices.

The company said that it rewrote its code from the rendering engine up to offer a slimmer, more powerful version of its browser. Opera 7 is a 3.4M byte download, compared to Opera 6's 3.5M byte download size.

Users willing to look at an ad banner on their browser can download Opera 7 for free from http://www.opera.com Otherwise, an ad-free version in available for US$39.

DriveEuro · Jan 29, 2003, 01:56 AM

Wow... I never knew that you had to pay for Opera....?

AlternateVirus · Jan 29, 2003, 05:54 AM

it been like that since Opera 5 i think

JLP · Jan 29, 2003, 08:40 AM

It's a very good browser. It has excelent support for standards and looks nice and works fast. Too bad you have to pay for it to get rid of annoying banners (I guess this is a bug with thir popup blocking system

). I am still staying with Mozilla for browsing and e.mail as it is the best of all.

Erroneus · Jan 29, 2003, 09:48 AM

version 7 is great, never crashes which is something IE can brag about and it loads pages faster then IE and about the same as phoenix. And only very few pages can't be viewed 100% in Opera, but updates are released often.

dai · Jan 29, 2003, 05:09 PM

i bought version 3 but have used the free ones since the best browser just got better

RIV@NVX · Jan 29, 2003, 07:27 PM

Well, design of version 7 is very nice (smooth, good looking), but overally - still needs more work on page displaying.

Grzyb · Jan 30, 2003, 02:04 PM

I've heard there are still some "bugs" in this version....Will stick to 6.05 until they are ironed out...

AlternateVirus · Jan 31, 2003, 12:04 AM

jes, first bug i found was tha it doesnt view DH's main forum index right.

Jan 28, 2003, 11:33 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Opera releases leaner, meaner Windows browser Printer Friendly Format Opera Software ASA released a new version of its Internet browser for the Windows operating systems, offering increased speed and features, as well as a slightly smaller download size than the previous version, thanks to rewritten code. Opera 7, released Tuesday, offers a host of new innovations from the Oslo software maker, including a links panel that features all the links on a particular page, and a "fast forward" feature that takes users to the next page they are most likely to visit. The latest version of the software also has what Opera is calling "spatial navigation," a feature that allows users to gain access to links and other navigational tools on a Web page by using the shift and arrow keys on their keyboards. Additionally, Opera 7 boasts a one-click log-in feature to password protected sites, which it calls "the wand," a new navigation bar, the ability to easily download a new skin, or look, an updated e-mail client and small-screen rendering feature that allows Web developers to test and see how their pages will look on smaller mobile devices. The company said that it rewrote its code from the rendering engine up to offer a slimmer, more powerful version of its browser. Opera 7 is a 3.4M byte download, compared to Opera 6's 3.5M byte download size. Users willing to look at an ad banner on their browser can download Opera 7 for free from http://www.opera.com Otherwise, an ad-free version in available for US$39.

Jan 29, 2003, 01:56 AM	#2
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	Wow... I never knew that you had to pay for Opera....? __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Jan 29, 2003, 08:40 AM	#4
JLP DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Slovenia Posts: 249 Rep Power: 0	Very good It's a very good browser. It has excelent support for standards and looks nice and works fast. Too bad you have to pay for it to get rid of annoying banners (I guess this is a bug with thir popup blocking system ). I am still staying with Mozilla for browsing and e.mail as it is the best of all.

Jan 29, 2003, 09:48 AM	#5
Erroneus Get off my lawn! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 13,417 Rep Power: 119 System Specs	great browser version 7 is great, never crashes which is something IE can brag about and it loads pages faster then IE and about the same as phoenix. And only very few pages can't be viewed 100% in Opera, but updates are released often. __________________ Last edited by Erroneus; Jan 30, 2003 at 06:23 PM.

Jan 29, 2003, 07:27 PM	#7
RIV@NVX Freedom is a feature. Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Croatia, Rijeka Posts: 4,476 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Well, design of version 7 is very nice (smooth, good looking), but overally - still needs more work on page displaying. __________________ -- Vedran

Jan 29, 2003, 05:54 AM	#3
AlternateVirus DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 282 Rep Power: 0	it been like that since Opera 5 i think

Jan 29, 2003, 05:09 PM	#6
dai DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 126 Rep Power: 0	i bought version 3 but have used the free ones since the best browser just got better

Jan 30, 2003, 02:04 PM	#8
Grzyb DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 11 Rep Power: 0	I've heard there are still some "bugs" in this version....Will stick to 6.05 until they are ironed out...

Jan 31, 2003, 12:04 AM	#9
AlternateVirus DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 282 Rep Power: 0	jes, first bug i found was tha it doesnt view DH's main forum index right.