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While everything else is correct (Opera is by far the more innovative browser), it is not true that Firefox/-bird waits for the user to choose a location when downloading a file; in fact, it behaves just like Opera (i.e. it starts the download as soon as you request it).

Hrm. If true, that's a new addition, as it was not true when I tested it. Admittedly that was awhile ago.

Don't forget, in file types in Opera preferences you can configure Opera to automatically save files to any directory (without prompting you) based on their file extensions or mimetypes.

what browser doesnt offer that.

AutoDownload aside, the section on 'Efficient Navigation' is erroneous as well, at least as far as I'm aware of. Firefox actually selects links in real-time, right off the bat, as you type them in - which is IMHO far better than any form of keyboard link navigation Opera currently offers.

Opera's MDI feature is overrated, if you ask me. Unless I suddenly get the urge to tile or cascade all my open tabs, I can't really see how is it superior - or even equal - to Firefox's Tabbrowser Extensions, which offer a hell lot more features and tweak-able settings than Opera does.

Opera selects links in real-time as well... the features are identical as far as I can tell.

As for MDI.... overrated? Interesting, since most of the browsers since have tried to copy it. Among other things it allows for Linked Windows (a feature also not found in any other browser).

And Extensions are disallowed, since they often conflict with one another and break between releases. As long as Mozilla.org keeps printing lies about Opera and making comparisons between Firefox with extensions and specially configured vs Opera out of the box, we won't be talking about Extensions here.

We can ask why Firefox needs all these extensions to do things that Opera can do already. Last time I tried, Firefox couldn't even keep all it's windows in one main window (a main feature of true MDI).

Opera, built in, will let you open links in the same window or a new window. It will let you run in pure MDI or with several MDI windows. What more do you really need?

Funny - personally, I've never been able to get Opera to function like Firefox's Find As You Type feature, and Opera's support site doesn't list it, as near as I can tell. If anyone could teach me how to do this, I'd be grateful.

Why are Extensions not allowed? They're a part of Firefox, after all. I've been using 10+ Extensions for the past few months, and have encountered no conflicts whatsoever on Firebird or Firefox. As for breaking between releases, I've yet to see any sign of such a problem. David Tenser's Extensions site was offline for two days or so when Firefox was released due to heavy traffic, but the Extension Room was online all the while, as near as I can tell.

Less tech-savvy users may take a while to discover the power that Extensions lend to Firefox, but when they do, Firefox becomes a really cool browser. Yes, Opera does have all its features out of the box, but I couldn't really care less where I get my features from. And there are certain stuff you won't find in Opera. Sure, both Firefox and Opera can block pop-ups, but if you've always wanted to zap banner and Flash ads too... well, Firefox can help. ;)

And yes - Firefox CAN keep all its windows in one main window. It can also let you configure what kind of links do you want to open in new tabs or new windows, and set exceptions for those rules as well. Firefox lets you block Javascript, plug-ins and frames - among others - in specific tabs. Want a progress meter in each individual tab displaying loading progress, or a customizable right-click context menu for your tabs? No problem. Ctrl + # to instantly jump to any tab instead of having to scroll through a list of all open tabs when using keyboard shortcuts? Yup, can do that too. Save (not Bookmark) and recall groups of tabs with a single keystroke? Yes, I know Opera can save and recall tabgroups as well, but Firefox does it with style. TBE offers a hell lot more geeky features I can live without, but the ones I do use, I find quite useful. I also can't find them anywhere in Opera, of course. ^_^

I keep up with FireFox/Firebird and TBE always breaks something for me. Why I cannot even open javascript links at www.cnnsi.com or www.computeroutlookrts.com for example with TBE and FireFox.

The closest competitor to Opera IMO is Mozilla 1.6 currently coupled with Multizilla and MouseGestures.

But, like the author of this site, I find that Opera does everything much better natively without conflicts ever.

There's a JavaScript link on the Ragnarok Online webpage that Firefox can't open correctly, at that - I'm not sure if its related to the newest 0.8 release, but it's a reason why I keep both Firefox and Opera on my laptop PC as failsafes for each other. ;)

Among the sites I use, there are some which Opera flunks at as well, either by messing with font sizes, JavaScript links, DHTML dropdown menus and various others - but as with Firefox, I think these shortcomings are minor, and it seems to be an inbuilt trait that pages Firefox screws up will load correctly in Opera and vice versa. We're using third-party browsers, after all, and on an Internet that is largely devised specifically for IE, I think a 99.8% success rate isn't bad at all - both for Firefox and Opera.

I like Opera - I really do. It's a nice browser with a nice interface. It has a lot of nifty features, is extremely customizable, and I like its forums better than mozilla.org's. Still, when it comes down to features... Firefox just can't be beat.

I thought they would have included a decent back up facilty in Opera 7.5. Look at Yeah Write - multiple back up and FTP facility. Grown up people need a simple secure back up for mail and bookmarks notes you name it. It is fundamental...

OK, that has pretty much nothing to do with Mozilla changing its name again.

There's no browser that has decent backup facility, or any backup facility that I'm aware of.

Want to backup your Opera profile and mail? Backup the folder (mine's located at C:\Documents and Settings\Tim\Application Data\Opera). That will backup everything you need.

Backups are important, but rather than each application implementing a backup solution, perhaps it would be better if the OS did it or the user. The last thing we need is code bloat in every application.

Yes true on both counts but my OS is windows XP...

I also tried the manual backup and 7.5 is different from 7.23 b because mail doesn't copy properly. I

You can't say YW is bloated and it does it all manually and automatically. Opera collects such a lot of information that it should be auto I think

There's no reason that backup in 7.5 should be any different than 7.2. Windows has a limitation that prevents copying/backup of files which are open in some application, so you would have to quit Opera to do so, but that is a limitation of Windows, not Opera.

Thanx for your advice but still believe such a powerful onformation gathering tool such as Opera should have a more sophisticated backup tool than that. And I am no debutante (worked for DEC for 10 years) Sorry wrong forum though. I have tried and tried to like Netscape/Gecko over the years and cannot understand the current love of lizard technology and daft icons. I remember filling up my file boxes with ships wheels was a real turn off early and it's got worse. I though that Firefox that could be a relief from red lizards and now the Firefox (sad) is a really naff icon too. Icons may seem simplistic but they should be something cerebral (like Opera or Gamma or Astra or (ugh) Apple etc) not huntin and shootin' and fishin' logos. With Opera you can get great skins like Carthago and DOS and simulated text browser. It's the whole feel, the philosophy, that counts. It's like George W Bush versus Franklin Delano R. And Gecko being AOL is as tainted as MS.And you mention bloat! I think Opera wins even with the extras it has inbuilt. SO I will go on cutting and pasting as you suggest. Thanks
Ellubo