The Opera Web Browser

I'm typing this because there are still people out there who are using Internet Explorer (or Internet Explorer shells like AOL and MSN) and the sad part is, most of them don't know that there are alternatives. It's time for a better internet experience, its time for OPERA! Opera is a fast, sleek, safe, and feature-rich web browser and is free. Why use opera? Well there are many reasons, so lets get started.
Security
Opera's tight coding and non-support for ActiveX make it the safest browser around. Combined with Anti-Virus software, a firewall, and spyware protection, your computer will be perfect! Internet Explorer is prone to spyware and viruses, so many security holes. And can be easily hacked, hackers attack Internet Explorer because they know most of the world uses it.

Speed
Opera is proven to be the safest web browser out there. I have even tested it myself over and over again. No browser even comes close to opera's speed! Want proof? Check this out: http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/browserSpeed.html And that's the proof folks.

Features
Opera is most well known for being feature-rich. Opera is crammed with tons of features, and its only 3.7MB! Here's some of opera's features:
There is no need to open up a lot of windows to view different sites.

Tabbed Browsing
Opera's tabbed browsing helps you surf the Web easier and faster by opening multiple Web pages all within one window. Tabbed browsing is one aspect of Opera's Multiple Document Interface (MDI), which maintains multiple pages within a single application window and better supports users who need to refer to numerous sites at the same time.

Popup Blocker
Opera can easily be configured to push all pop-up windows to the background, to show only pop-ups that you have requested, or to simply refuse them all.

Skins
Enjoy a new user interface look instantly with just one click. Pick and click a skin from the My Opera Community portal to reflect your own personal style. Installation is immediate upon download.

Built-in Search
Opera's built-in search utility, by default located next to the address field, searches the Web using an engine of your choice. Select your preferred search engine using the drop down menu provided inside the search field, or set a new default in the 'Search' section of Opera's preferences. Opera's searches are also gathered in the Search panel.

Wand Password Manager
The Wand stores your passwords so that you can have one-click log-in access.

Fast Forward and Rewind
he Fast Forward and Rewind functions let the browser anticipate where you may want to go next. If you, for example, make a search request through Google, you are normally given results that are indexed across many pages. There is not yet any user forward history, but the "Fast Forward" option will detect the "next" link and take you to the next page. Using the same example, you may return directly to the first page after having browsed through the search result pages by clicking the "Rewind." button.

Panels
The panel selector is a customizable display of shortcuts to Opera's panels. You decide which panel buttons you would like to display in the panel selector, and in what order. Opera has panels for such features as bookmarks, mail, contacts, chat, notes, transfers, history, links, windows, and notes. Most of these panels are included in the default setup. Right-click the panel or the selector to customize the display to your liking.

M2 (Opera's Built in Mail Client)
Opera's built-in POP/IMAP E-mail client is a combined e-mail program, news reader, mailing list organizer and RSS newsfeed reader. A safer, faster, and more intelligent way of handling your e-mails.

Notes
Notes can be kept in conjunction with a Web site you want to refer to later, to remind you of any particular information you may like to review again in a later session.

IRC Chat
Communicate with people all over the world using Opera's IRC chat client. Use Opera to connect to IRC servers to chat privately or in rooms with your friends and family.

Mouse Guestures
Navigate by using your mouse! All mouse guestures can be found here: http://www.opera.com/features/mouse/

Fit to Window Width
Hate the horizontal scroll bar? Opera's small screen rendering technology can easily adjust the page for you to get rid of the horizontal scroll bar, without losing any of the page!

Phew, finally done, and there are still more features that I didn't mention, you'll just have to get opera to see them all. Well did I convince you? I hope I did. Go to opera.com to get opera today, and have the best internet experience around!

A word to other alternate browser users: If you are using something like Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape, Safari, etc. then you are using a browser that is better and safer than Internet Explorer, but doesn't come close to comparing to opera. My advice to you is the same. Try out opera, I know you'll like it.