Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

CyberDoc999 reviewed v37.0.2178.10 on Apr 13, 2016

down to 2 stars

Blackholesun reviewed v31.0.1889.74 on Jul 20, 2015

The day the Opera management decided to chromatized (sic) their browser, they have pushed the button for self-destruction !

If you must use Chromium based browser then there are many better browsers available on the with much more functionality than what is being offered by the Opera team.

Give this chromium close a miss, it's simply not worth anymore. There are too many "chromium cloned bloat-ware" (sic) available on the net.

Blaxima reviewed v30.0.1835.47 on Jun 2, 2015

Opera has basically stopped developing at it's Norwegian office and shifted development to Poland in a cost saving measure. Yeah because cutting costs leads to better quality and it shows. Silly bugs, no worthwhile improvements, I give up.

smaragdus reviewed v27.0.1689.44 Beta on Jan 15, 2015

Opera 15 and above- the worst browser ever.

rafaelluik reviewed v26.0.1656.20 Beta on Dec 5, 2014

Some people are obsessed. Opera is very good for my needs. Not perfect, but other browsers are far worse.

CyberDoc999 reviewed v26.0.1656.20 Beta on Nov 20, 2014

this is not the way to fix Opera

Blaxima reviewed v26.0.1656.20 Beta on Nov 18, 2014

qazimono
Reviewing 26.0.1656.8 Beta (Nov 8, 2014)
Now with working bookmarks, the last feature missing from 12 Version

-----------

Is that a joke? It's apparently the same one the CFO is telling investors...and it's a load. NO built in; mail client, notes, torrent client, per site settings, customization, etc..

Whether you used those features or not is moot because the fact is this does NOT have half of the features that old Opera had. But it is so advanced now that some feel the need to pat it on the back for having bookmarks?! haha. I'll also point out that the bookmarks don't even support drag and drop yet. I do like them however as it seems very speed dial esq which kind of renders the new tab one useless. Clearly this browser is being developed for the finger painting google crowd

Most plugin developers do not submit to the Opera repository which means another add on to allow you access to the Chrome store

I had given this a 2 start rating but the last 2 versions crashed quite a bit for me and failed to load some web pages that the stable branch could

Blaxima reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 10, 2014

The development of this chrome clone has been a very drawn out process. Many features are still missing and this and the dev version are rather buggy.

laptopy.net reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

It's quite possible that 26 version will become my default browser again

hedley reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

It's fast but still need some improvement.
Missing old Opera which was state of art.

outofspace reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

Really much better than 20-25 versions. We are nearly perfect browser

qazimono reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

Now with working bookmarks, the last feature missing from 12 Version

cltx99 reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

Real rating is 0. How does a two star rated program come out as being a "pick"? How about picking your noses.

Blackholesun reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 8, 2014

What to say? Opera management have shot in their own foot. The wound is not healing and it will soon leads to amputation !

Once a king of innovations, is now struggling hard to survive.

gezley reviewed v26.0.1656.8 Beta on Nov 7, 2014

Opera is nothing more now than a dumbed-down browser for the terminally brain-dead to do their googling, twittering and facebooking.
RIP Opera. Once the US corporations got their hands on you it was only a matter of time before you succumbed and dumbed down your interface to satisfy their dumb personnel and users.

Sven123456789 reviewed v25.0.1614.35 Beta on Oct 13, 2014

Was a good browser back in the day. Like everything software wise nowadays, its gone down the toilet.

Orhin reviewed v25.0.1614.35 Beta on Oct 12, 2014

A browser which is not able to be at least a bit UI customized is a bad browser. We live in the future and not in the past where all had to be static so that the most stupid users could have been happy!

If people finally would learn how to use functions properly, they could be able to grow up and use a browser for intelligent people.,

But apparently it is more favorable to stay without knowledge instead of understanding how computer stuff works!

Welcome to the Chrome cursed simplistic and limited world of the future which loser browser groups like Opera or Mozilla happily embracing!

I have to vomit!

smaragdus reviewed v25.0.1614.35 Beta on Oct 8, 2014

I have never imagined that a browser could be worse then IE, but Opera beats it. Those who used Opera 12 dropped it, those who use Chrome have no reason to switch to Opera since it is the worst Chrome clone.

rafaelluik reviewed v25.0.1614.31 Beta on Oct 7, 2014

Opera has never been this accessible (easy, simple to use) yet still retaining some advanced options/features other browsers don't have.

Blaxima reviewed v25.0.1614.18 Beta on Sep 25, 2014

Opera renders pages reasonably well, though fonts can look awful which is the curse of every Chromium browser out there it would seem.

The real problem with Opera is the new approach. Their implementation of things is half baked. At this rate the browser is still far too vanilla and uncustomizable to be used in a business environment or one that requires more than just a few minutes of finger painting. The old bugs are getting buried under new ones rather than actually getting fixed.

It is a far too linear experience for my liking

Orhin reviewed v24.0.1558.34 on Sep 14, 2014

Same Problem as new Mozilla - Google took over/bought Opera more or less/Opera devs have been thinking the only way to survive is if they discard almost all UI customization features.

Look at the stats, Users running away! Customization is NO thing of the past! People want more built in options and not all available on extensions only.

Seamonkey, Slimjet and Maxthon show what browsers really should feature! Intelligent options for intelligent people and not crapware like Firefox with Australis or Opera's chrome clone for simple people!

What for a shame!

It's 2014, People should learn to accept that complexity and feature richness build inside is more recommended as Chrome like stupidity for simple minded users! If you can not understand that, you better learn to handle your computers properly!

gatorfan95 reviewed v24.0.1558.34 on Aug 13, 2014

Bleh Same old crap, different name

rafaelluik reviewed v23.0.1522.58 on Jul 23, 2014

*You* remain in denial, it's 2014 indeed. :)

DrTeeth reviewed v23.0.1522.58 on Jul 18, 2014

Useless to me unless a bookmarks sidebar is implemented. Opera has shot itself in the foot with this one BIG TIME.

For zillions more config options, type "about:flags" in the address bar. This works for all Chromium-based browsers.

uberfly reviewed v23.0.1522.58 on Jul 18, 2014

Chrome runs well, as does this chromium spin off. Old opera was very configurable - this, not so much at all. Hopefully it will be developed to allow more flexibility to the user.

inkowyouknow reviewed v23.0.1522.43 on Jul 6, 2014

Was good once, the glory days are long gone RIP Opera

darkNiGHTS reviewed v23.0.1522.43 on Jul 3, 2014

Is this supposed to be different than Chrome? I installed an extension that allows me to browse the Chrome store and install Chrome extensions. They've added a few "cute" features, but similar features and/or extensions exist in Chrome.

Blaxima reviewed v23.0.1522.14 on Jun 20, 2014

You remain in denial, 2014

rafaelluik reviewed v23.0.1522.14 on Jun 12, 2014

I stay in Opera 23.

CyberDoc999 reviewed v23.0.1522.14 on Jun 12, 2014

I went back to 12.17

Qlib reviewed v22.0.1471.34 on May 28, 2014

crappy chrome copy.... want old PROPER Opera back..

Sven123456789 reviewed v22.0.1471.34 on May 20, 2014

Not as bad as the new Firefox. But nowhere near as good as older versions of Opera.

maxxowar reviewed v22.0.1471.34 on May 20, 2014

I use Opera since Opera 4 I think, so lots of year, i tried also these new Opera 18 and Opera 20 for few months, but I decided to quit and go back to Opera 12.00 (12.17) because my 6 years old netbook runs it really faster than the newer cores.

DrTeeth reviewed v22.0.1471.16 on May 10, 2014

Pure s***e. However, v12.17 is as good as it ever was, 5*.

Blaxima reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on May 9, 2014

What a convincing argument you make rafool.

You'll notice this is actually not next as it is a version behind the main stream. Which means it's more accessible since Opera, like big brother Chrome, have dropped SSE1 processor support......but it's not a clone

smuttinata reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on May 2, 2014

Is this the real deal? version 12.17 has come out!!!

ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1217/int/

rafaelluik reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 26, 2014

Still better than other browsers.

Qlib reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 20, 2014

it's not opera anymore but a half-assed chrome clone..

smaragdus reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 11, 2014

1 star is too much for this crap.

dsp_418 reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 10, 2014

I completely agree with shroom.
Almost tempted to give it 1 star... 2 stars because after all it's a Chrome alternative.

shroom reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 10, 2014

Opera 9 was excellent, 10 was good, 11 was quite good, 12 was ok.
After that, it's just "yet another chromium-based browser".

DaComboMan reviewed v21.0.1432.39 on Apr 10, 2014

Pityful bookmark manager!

After how many betas, nexts and devs... you'd think they'd have a decent bookmark manager by now. Sheeesh!

Just pityful!!

rafaelluik reviewed v21.0.1432.31 on Apr 5, 2014

The chagelogs links... It seems Blaxima isn't able to read them:
http://blogs.opera.com/desktop/changelog19/
http://blogs.opera.com/desktop/changelog20/
http://blogs.opera.com/desktop/changelog21/
And so on...

Sven123456789 reviewed v21.0.1432.31 on Mar 31, 2014

Not good

smaragdus reviewed v21.0.1432.31 on Mar 31, 2014

Terrible browser. Opera is dead, this is not Opera but a zombie still haunting the web.

Blaxima reviewed v21.0.1432.31 on Mar 31, 2014

Lengthy?! What are you smoking? There are countless builds with just a single change(usually a chromium update) and that is considered a new build?! Unless you're trying to group the entire branch which would make sense since you do try and be contrary just for the sake of it

So many incremental releases which has, in their world equalled 5 major version releases and yet still no bookmarks manager. Worse yet is that you still can't get rid of Google search and use one of your choice as default. what a joke(and a bad one at that).

Here's something to look forward to, the new Developer build(v22), which will become Opera Next, will be introducing something else you can't control...............Silent Updates. There is also the very important........New Default Themes, hooray. Don't expect proper bookmarks and a manager for them though because the Opera team says that no one uses those.

rafaelluik reviewed v21.0.1419.0 on Mar 20, 2014

I don't get your point Blaxima, the two changelogs are just as lengthy.

Blackholesun reviewed v21.0.1419.0 on Mar 4, 2014

How come it is released on 3rd March? I have been using the same opera next version since last ten days or so ! I had downloaded it from Opera's FTP side.

Other than that all I can say is the Opera is nearing it's death bed. It's been 5 major release since Opera 15, and yet they have not given the requested features ! It is very frustrating.

Blaxima reviewed v21.0.1419.0 on Mar 4, 2014

Just the facts rafool, just the facts

Version 19 (stable) changelog
http://blogs.opera.com/d...p/changelog19/#b1326.63

Version 20 (Next)changelog
http://blogs.opera.com/desktop/changelog20/

EDIT: Now 20 has gone stable. It's impossible to keep up with this rapid squat and release cycle and frankly, not worth it

rafaelluik reviewed v20.0.1387.59 on Feb 28, 2014

FINALLY! Bye Blaxima!
Way to ignore all the other items in the changelog of a stabilization branch.

Blaxima reviewed v20.0.1387.59 on Feb 27, 2014

oops, I meant to say about 10 years(in my previous post) but before I could edit it, another "new" version.

Definitely falls into the Chrome release mentality of quantity over quality

Blaxima reviewed v20.0.1387.53 on Feb 26, 2014

This exchange on Opera's blog just about sums up the current direction of Opera:

FDiskas • 6 hours ago
http://browser.yandex.com Yandex browser is far ahead of Opera Next. Please hurry up. Think different make it more innovative.
•
Reply
•
Daniel Aleksandersen [Mod] • 3 hours ago
They are actually a few months behind. Their beta stream is based on Chromium 30.0.1599.13023 where as Opera’s stable stream is already on Chromium 32.0.1700.107. So three major upstream releases behind.

-----------------------------

as for proper bookmarks here's what they have to say;

BK [Mod] • 4 days ago

For the time being we are not working on further improving bookmarks. There are things with higher priority,

----------------------------

and here's the last 2 changelogs in their entirety to illustrate their "focus"

19.0.1326.63
Chromium updated to 1700.107

19.0.1326.59
Chromium updated to 1700.102

------------------

This will be the last time I review Opera because it is painfully clear that the browser I used for over 10 years is truly dead

netean reviewed v20.0.1387.37 on Feb 22, 2014

The move from their own rendering engine to chrome's webkit is, in my opinion the start of the end for the once great Opera. It's a much larger download for far fewer features - it doesn't feel integrated like it used to and just feels like Chrome with a different branding. Sadly they've also stopped support Linux either.
There is no reason to use Opera any more, it's just a rebranded/rebadged Chrome - if you want Chrome, download Chrome (or Chromium)

DaComboMan reviewed v20.0.1387.37 on Feb 19, 2014

+1 to cltx99 comment.

Opera is still not even half of what it used to be.
Maxthon4 might be in some ways better then Chrome but it's taking them ages to do any major enhancement. They should have stuck to version 2 or 3 and give us a browser that deserves that name.

Firefox is the only viable alternative in present conditions.

cltx99 reviewed v20.0.1387.37 on Feb 19, 2014

Through the years, I've used three browsers. I never thought anything could beat chrome in speed and page rendering. However, as time passed by, chrome was getting worse and worse. Until recently, Opera was always a good option. In the past it was customizable and even a good default browser. What the pin-heads have done to Opera is beyond belief. It truly rates as a piece of junk.

In the meantime, FireFox has become my main browser. It covers all of the bases and in page rendering leaves Chrome in the dust, especially those of you have a dedicated home page, like IGhome. Another browser worthy of mention is Maxthon, but sadly extensions are few and mostly rubbish.

I would be good if the people at Opera would re-screw their heads on properly and produce a browser that was usable and not just a childish gimmick.

gatorfan95 reviewed v20.0.1387.37 on Feb 19, 2014

After not using Opera for a long while, I thought I'd give it another look. I didnt think it was possible for it to get any worse, I was wrong. What piece of junk.

Sven123456789 reviewed v20.0.1387.37 on Feb 18, 2014

Now worse than I.E.

rafaelluik reviewed v20.0.1387.30 on Feb 14, 2014

There are bookmarks, and the bookmarks bar is one of the best with easy drag and dropping and middle-click/context menu features.

garretthylltun reviewed v20.0.1387.30 on Feb 12, 2014

I can only hope that I still have my old copy of Opera... This new chrome shell just sucks (something). It's so simple and so lacking in features that it's a pain in the arse to use. I spent 10 minutes looking for a way to import my bookmarks only to find.... THERE AREN'T ANY BOOKMARKS!!!

If you want Chrome, just go get Chrome. Opera itself is rather pointless now when Chrome itself is better to use than Opera.

They should have open sourced the old Opera code so that someone could at least carry the torch for what Opera really was.

Šbb Kbb reviewed v20.0.1387.24 on Feb 7, 2014

An ugly and bloated window for google search and advertisement. And spyware to. Scam

rafaelluik reviewed v19.0.1326.39 on Jan 21, 2014

@guru_v
Don't you have text interpretation skills? The software description is clearly outdated.
E.g. Opera passed more than 20 million active users since a long time already, there's no "Trash Can" button in the latest versions (though the list is still there in the menu), etc.

Chromium's open source code is completely editable. Opera Software is an independent company. There's no "might of Google" behind it. Grow up.

dejavu reviewed v19.0.1326.39 on Jan 20, 2014

It's a good browser, BUT, in the name of god: Why not a simple bookmark manager?

Sven123456789 reviewed v19.0.1326.39 on Jan 20, 2014

If you thought I.E. was bad. Try this former good browser. A mess to say the least.

guru_v reviewed v19.0.1326.39 on Jan 20, 2014

"Opera Web browser offers the best internet browsing experience available" Truth in advertising should prevail here, and disallow anything such as this. It used to be true [for those who bothered to use the features] but since it has been made a Chrome variant, the only thing that can be said it that it has the might of Google behind it.

What a waste...

mancubs reviewed v19.0.1326.34 on Jan 19, 2014

just loaded this new one , its by far the best browsers out their woho

rafaelluik reviewed v19.0.1326.26 on Jan 13, 2014

Works great with my near 10 years old hardware.

winamp reviewed v19.0.1326.26 on Jan 8, 2014

Opera had it all, and gave it up for chromium.. no more Opera for me! ever!

Blaxima reviewed v19.0.1326.9 on Dec 6, 2013

@rafool, How would you know, is that what works for you? Thanks, but much like with this browser, I'll pass.

It's hard to take this browser as a serious alternative to chrome when it still lacks many of the basics that even the very vanilla chrome has. And we are now at 4 major version releases and it's still in a state that would be barely acceptable as a first version. It's also hard to see this as an alternative to chrome when there is that massive google branding on the speed dial.

And there are still too many annoyances like the inability to select text in the middle of a URL or the big issues with HTML5 videos on youtube, Opera can only play them at 360p.

Lack of features and options already have this a resource monster so perhaps it's intentional to make it a barebones browser. One can only imagine what type of machine you would need to run it if it was actually a step beyond functional.

Šbb Kbb reviewed v19.0.1326.9 on Dec 5, 2013

A very beautiful nonfunctional 2 times bigger and slower Chrome skin? Yea,we are fanboys :-)

uberfly reviewed v19.0.1326.9 on Dec 5, 2013

It's improving. Why is it great? Because you get Chrome with the Google baggage dumped at the curb. Opera/Chrome team-up sounds good to me. Butthurt Opera or Chrome fanboys please stop.

Zootopia3001 reviewed v19.0.1326.9 on Dec 4, 2013

Just call it what it really is... Opera Chrome for Windows

8189720 reviewed v19.0.1326.9 on Dec 4, 2013

This browser has become garbage. Gone are the many things that made Opera Opera. Now it's just Chrome with a big red "O" for an icon.

What happened to the bookmarks? GONE.
Where is the button customization? Can't find it.
Why did they remove the fast-forward button? No idea.

If I have to write some stupid script into the address bar to access hidden features then it's gone too far. I want to access items from a menu.

And as for my parting words, to the developers of Opera: Quit fuc*ing around with the browser and changing it for change sake. It was the best browser out there and it's been garbage since version 12.xx.

smaragdus reviewed v18.0.1284.26 on Nov 21, 2013

Opera 15+ is by far the worst browser ever made.

@rafaelluik
You are an incredibly stupid troll.

rafaelluik reviewed v18.0.1284.26 on Nov 13, 2013

Blaxima you need to suck d*** urgently so you can feel better, take this advice sincerely. :)

Blaxima reviewed v18.0.1284.26 on Nov 8, 2013

By Blazej Kazmierczakbkazmierczak. Thursday, October 31, 2013 6:59:00 AM

We have made decision to shutdown My Opera as of March 1, 2014.

----------------------------

Not that I used it but they really are shedding every ounce of the things that made Opera, Opera. They are quickly becoming a featureless and communityless browser/company. Thanks for the good times.......NEXT!!

DaComboMan reviewed v18.0.1284.26 on Nov 8, 2013

I recall the days when I once paid for Opera!
With this latest rehash based on Chromium, I wouldn't even give a dime!
It is still simply not even a 10th of what it used to be.

rafaelluik reviewed v18.0.1284.7 on Oct 23, 2013

The installer is the right one now. *thumbs up*

CyberDoc999 reviewed v17.0.1241.45 Beta on Oct 10, 2013

I'm keeping version 12.16 this version is junk

rafaelluik reviewed v17.0.1241.45 Beta on Oct 9, 2013

This installer is for the final, not for the latest beta (Next), just to make you aware of that because BetaNews/FileForum has put the wrong version link here.

Betachecker reviewed v17.0.1241.36 Beta on Oct 3, 2013

Oh Opera! I miss the good old days...

Mirrebex reviewed v17.0.1241.36 Beta on Oct 3, 2013

I'm keeping version 12.16 for now.. this is a piece of s***.

CyberDoc999 reviewed v17.0.1241.28 Beta on Oct 1, 2013

they sold out... Opera is no more.. it is really chrome

asaenz reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 16, 2013

Not worth keeping on my computer anymore ... next to useless.

Blaxima reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 11, 2013

well well well rafool, what do ya know. Version 18 (dev channel) has arrived and this is what the dev team has to say.

By Blazej Kazmierczakbkazmierczak. Wednesday, September 11, 2013 10:57:27 AM

As we make updates, you'll hopefully see enhancements to Quick Access Bar, tab handling, more settings, right click on edit fields to create searches, improvements on HDD usage, Synchronization (Opera Link) might be available in two weeks time, and others.

Note that features will be shipped when they're ready, so the list above may change if we encounter showstopper bugs or UI nasties, in which case they'll be rolled over to another release. For the same reason, it's possible that features may be removed before Opera 18 goes to the Next channel.

------

Notice no mention of bookmarks, notes, etc..? But themes are ready to go. What was it you called us, dummies right?

And where are those v12 Presto updates they said they would release as to not force Chopera on us right away?

Another funny thing, I've used Opera for 10+ years and was a contributing member since 2006. But it seems the new management doesn't like to be called out on things as they have disabled my account. Of course zealots can attack people and call them names which goes against their (so called) Codes of Conduct. Shameful and cowardly behaviour to say the least that only reinforces what Hilbert mentioned in regards to the loyalty they have for long time users of their product.

Bottom line, mobile. Need proof? Which platform was the new Opera first released on? Exactly. As for that, the Android version looks nice and renders well but just like this, it is featureless while being 4x the size of others and resource heavy, often freezing my phone. Boat Browser ftw!

DrTeeth reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 10, 2013

It's phuqing rubbish...no more to say.

MikeTechno reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 9, 2013

Wow! VERY impressed with the new Opera 17. Best browser I've used so far!

Hilbert reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 8, 2013

Again, I've nothing positive to say about Opera Next. What I said reviewing version 15.0 (Jun 13, 2013) still stands. Like Windows 8, Opera has run off the rails and it's clear why—Windows 8 and Chrome etc, have spooked its developers to such an extent that it's to hell with any existing user useability concerns.

I'd have to agree with much of what Blaxima and guru_v have had to say in their recent posts about Opera's problems but I'll not dwell on them here. Perhaps the best post to reflect my real disappointment with Opera comes from niefer when reviewing Opera 15, beta 1 on Jun 19, 2013 when he wrote:

"Things change and good things do not last forever. RIP Opera, my friend for last 15 years."

That damn well sums it up for me, for I too have been using Opera for about that long.

What's Up with Opera's Developers?
------------------------------------------------
A conundrum that truly perplexes me and for which I've never found a satisfactory answer, is why software developers will totally scrap a program and replace it with another whilst touting it as an upgrade, Windows 8 and Opera Next being two excellent examples although there's many others.

Why is it that companies such as Opera Software, Microsoft etc. must have only one version of a product on offer or available at any one time? Moreover, why is it an absolute no-no to offer multiple or complementary products for slightly different markets?

For instance, why didn't Opera Software keep on improving the old version of Opera and also offer Opera Next at the same time? Similarly, why didn't Microsoft simultaneously offer, say, a version 7.xx upgrade to Windows 7 when it released Windows 8? After all, these newer 'replacement' products are geared for essentially a different market (as we've seen with all the recent noise and hoo-hah over Win 8). Clearly, the removal of the old product leaves a void as the new product, for whilst many features remain the same, is functionally very different in both its ergonomic functions and its set of features—it is, in fact, not on a direct upgrade path from the previous version.

I can understand that developers do not want to run parallel projects and thus consume valuable resources, but leaving a void in the market doesn't really make much sense. Clearly, there's a lack of competition or they wouldn't do it. It's very hard to imagine that MS would only offer one version of Windows if say there was serious competition from other O/Ses with compatible Win32/64 APIs (heaven forbid—if say there were several commercial versions (of functional clones of both Win7 and Win8) available from the ReactOS people that actually work).

You say so what, it's just an inconvenience and that's the way things are with software. Perhaps so, but compare this one-product-at-a-time offering from software companies with what's available from hardware manufacturers. I do not have to tell you that a hardware manufacture can have dozens of slightly different products on the market at the same time, consider the laptop offerings from Dell, HP and Toshiba for instance. And at its extreme, hardware offerings from a single manufacturer can reach heights of absurdity. Not that long ago I was updating the drivers on a Gigabyte mobo and to my amazement when I visited the site; I found that 99 different motherboards were then currently available!

Clearly, such a disparity between the availability of hardware and software products is absurd. Nevertheless, what it clearly indicates is how poorly we users are treated by software vendors. We users need to complain more (and I wish the professional commentards would be more objective about this problem instead of being mesmerized by the marketing departments of big software companies. In the grand schema, and consistently over the years, software-marketing departments really have bamboozled magazine writers to users' considerable disadvantage). ...And on that point:

It seems that for many users its developers have screwed Opera, some for the last time. Clearly, it's a commercial and marketing call made by Opera Software's accounts and such and made in the light of the smartphone craze. ...However, as we've seen amply demonstrated, user loyalty accounts for naught. Well so be it.

Farewell Opera!
---------------------

Here's a few quotes from a review about Opera from the late 1990s with which I had a little to do. It's somewhat amusing to read it now, not only does it bring back memories but it's an indicator of how times have changed. It was from the days when Opera would still fit onto a floppy disk. From its tone of voice, it's very clear we Opera users considered ourselves to be in the vanguard, and we certainly knew it and gladly announced the fact:

"...Sales types and other Microsoft's sycophants, bought off by some free code, or those who've succumbed and undergone a rapid religious conversion to the Less-Than-Charismatic-God-Bill-of-Redmond faith after an overexposure to his marketing department, will naturally gravitate to Internet Explorer.

The many Netscapers probably had Internet access prior to Microsoft's U-turn, and hence thought they were or still are in the avant-garde. Unfortunately, they're still stuck in their illusion, floating on a mire of bugs and bloatware, and will continue to do so until someone or something forces the removal of their rose-colored glasses.

On the other hand, the cognoscenti, the thinkers, the principled, and those for a better and more egalitarian Internet will pay small sums of money for professionally written, small and fast and technically superior browser products like Opera. As with all truly forward thinking groups, they're small in number and statistically insignificant early on but eventually they'll lead the masses from the wilderness."

Oh how the mighty have fallen, oh how times have changed.

RIP Opera!

Qlib reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 7, 2013

I really understand that they want to make their browser faster.. and it's faster..crap.. but faster...

Šbb Kbb reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 7, 2013

Jesus,this "wannabe Opera devs" cant even make a working (basic features) clone. Must be Master Google told them so.

asaas reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 7, 2013

Some quick release cycle, another broken promise. All they do is update the stables with the incremental updates. "Next" is supposed to have features added and they've added NONE, unless you consider fixing text in the google search .

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK ON THE LINK:::

rafaelluik reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 6, 2013

Hi Blaxima, all I have to say is that you're probably illiterate...

1. Bookmarks = Quick Access Bar right now. From Opera 17 and up you can enable QAB in opera:flags and then in the main interface settings.

2. Notes are not coming back, at least in the short term they don't have plans - I asked them on Twitter. When I called the people here dummies it was because the complaints were about things like custom search engines which are getting everyday more ready for a stable release, not exactly notes.

3. They said they'd provide security updates to 12.x in case any critical bug gets exposed, they haven't said they'd baby sit you.

4. I don't know what issues you had with your account. If you don't provide concrete data (what you posted exactly and why you were blocked) I can't do anything else than ignore this complaint. I've seen comments being deleted at the Desktop Team blog in the past but if you were blocked from accessing your account it might mean you done something really critical or a technical issue occurred.

5. Boat Browser on Android? Of course it's 1/4 the size of Opera, it runs on the Android built-in WebKit engine version (WebView) instead of using an up-to-date engine like Chromium's Blink. Check Firefox for Android and you'll clearly see the same is true for Gecko's size.
While I agree it's heavier than Opera Classic it definitely runs JS/DOM faster and it's more "compatible", and there's aways opportunity to improve (in fact in each version I see it's getting a little lighter).

Zootopia3001 reviewed v17.0.1241.11 Beta on Sep 6, 2013

@Blaxima
I thought all along that traditional sidebar bookmarks would be a no-go for Opera Next. Otherwise the folks at Google Chrome would have already done it themselves, being that not having a sidebar bookmark option is the #1 complaint with Google Chrome. Rafool is just that, a fool.

@rafool,
quote... "2. No Opera 18 build is even out yet."
So you know traditional bookmarks WILL be available how? Yea, I thought so, you're still the fool.

Blaxima reviewed v16.0.1196.55 Beta on Sep 2, 2013

No traditional Bookmarks in 17 or 18 in spite of what rafool says. Taken from the horses mouth:

Odin Hørthe OmdalVelmont # Friday, August 30, 2013 9:20:16 AM

One thing that is absolutely sure is that it is now possible to build an extension to do it, and that will be quicker than waiting. Any native bookmark functionality will use the same backend as the extension, so it can be a seamless transition. But the priority is on the quick access bar, which is not possible to do with extension right now.
--
That comment was taken from the dev build(v17) which is now feature frozen.

The fact that they are forcing us to mainly use speed dials indicates to me that they are going the Windows 8 route and appeasing touch users more than those who use a keyboard and mouse. Well that's worked out great for Microsoft so go right ahead. And now they've plugged up the little hacks that allowed us to remove that huge god awful google search bar from the speed dial. I say hacks because customization is a thing of the past with the new opera

Blaxima reviewed v16.0.1196.45 Beta on Aug 19, 2013

Never mind rafool, he's the same zealot over at the Opera forums. Versions 17 and 18 have no relevance when rating version 16, coulda woulda shoulda doesn't count. Besides, they've mentioned a bookmarks bar and extension API which isn't the same as bookmarks and maill, rss, notes, NOT COMING BACK nor is the ease of proxy settings found in the Presto versions and that's from the horse's mouth so it's no surprise that the Dev build(version 17) doesn't have them smart guy

Qlib reviewed v16.0.1196.45 Beta on Aug 17, 2013

sigh.. it's not improving.. :-(

Zootopia3001 reviewed v16.0.1196.45 Beta on Aug 16, 2013

@rafaelluik below...
By then it will be too late. They shoulda had some of the features ready to go before officially switching to Chromium. Besides, they may say the features will be added, but reality is another thing. Some of the features Opera once had will just not be possible with Chromium.

rafaelluik reviewed v16.0.1196.41 Beta on Aug 16, 2013

Look for the features being re-added in Opera 17 and 18 dummies.

Blaxima reviewed v16.0.1196.41 Beta on Aug 14, 2013

Maybe I'm being overly harsh. Maybe I misspoke about these releases being nothing but incremental chromium udates. Maybe I should just have another look at the shiny and new changelog for the version that is Next in line to replace the current and bare bones stable.

CHR-1145 Update chromium to 1547.49.
DNA-9469 Geolocation badge indicator is displayed in addressbar after the user dismisses the dialog with the ESC key
DNA-8558 Dot separating badge icons is missing on Windows
DNA-9528 Fix Crash in FillPasswordForm
DNA-9411 After performing Paste and Go, Opera remains focused on address bar
DNA-8085 Make paste and go work even without focus in address bar
DNA-7912 Prevent javascript copy/paste fraud
DNA-8995 Can't search for strings starting with javascript
DNA-9351 Crash occurs when trying to copy more then one line of code with javascript in address bar

WOW, I was way off. Would you just look at all those new features being added(back). I am Jack's complete and utter surprise(/end sarcasm)

jfnabisco reviewed v16.0.1196.41 Beta on Aug 13, 2013

I tell you I have been using Opera for about 8 years and I must say this new version is, well let's call it what it is, a piece of s***. Yes it is quicker but not anywhere as easy to use as the older version. Piece of advice to the Opera crew, use the new engine and give us back the old user interface.
Can't say anything good about this version.

guru_v reviewed v16.0.1196.35 Beta on Aug 7, 2013

"Opera Web browser offers the best internet browsing experience available."

Truth in advertising laws should make claims like this impossible - especially for anyone who has used Opera previously.

Still looks and feels like the red-headed stepchild of Chrome and some programming nightmare - missing a few chromosomes.

winamp reviewed v16.0.1196.35 Beta on Aug 7, 2013

me sad and angry.. why!! why!!

zillion167 reviewed v16.0.1196.29 Beta on Aug 4, 2013

At least it wasn't sold to Failbook.

Blaxima reviewed v16.0.1196.29 Beta on Aug 2, 2013

Some quick release cycle, another broken promise. All they do is update the stables with the incremental chromium updates. "Next" is supposed to have features added and they've added NONE, unless you consider fixing text in the google search one.

Absolute rubbish, on mobile too. I'm done with opera

Qlib reviewed v16.0.1196.25 Beta on Jul 26, 2013

Opera Next... what a joke.. Opera Previous is far far superior to this..

Zootopia3001 reviewed v16.0.1196.22 Beta on Jul 24, 2013

So we've gone from what was once a 10MB download(and comparable installation size) to a 30MB download(with probably a 100+MB installation size), and then settling with less features for the bloated size. Stick a fork in it, Opera is officially dead.

Qlib reviewed v16.0.1196.14 Beta on Jul 21, 2013

16?.. trying to catch up to google chrome are we?..

Blaxima reviewed v16.0.1196.14 Beta on Jul 20, 2013

They said bookmarks would be back in v16, well here is a next release and there are no bookmarks or any of the other things (useless themes, etc..) for that matter. Just the same Chrome style crap updates that seem to be a change in version numbering only. I'm sure bookmarks will be there when this goes final but they have had at least 10 releases since they took the dump that had this browser drop out and being a Chrome clone it's followed with fractional adjustments with each useless Chromium release.

The Discover page can be turned off now though which is good. At this pace Opera might be a decent browser in about 40 years

roman313 reviewed v16.0.1196.14 Beta on Jul 20, 2013

Opera is very bad now.
No x64-bit version, no mail.
I think opera is dead.

guru_v reviewed v16.0.1196.14 Beta on Jul 19, 2013

Well, Opera by Chrome is not all bad this time, just mostly that way.

It is good to see that they have put back "page zoom", and though it does not work properly, they get some props for that. On the other hand, promises were made that "bookmarks" were coming back, because nearly EVERY user that bothered to reply told them how exceedingly stupid they were for removing them. Well, no bookmarks, and nothing with another name that functions in that manner. I tried using Control-D, just in case it was hidden until someone actually wanted to make a bookmark, but it did nothing whatsoever.

Very bad, making promises and not keeping them. Very bad. Otherwise, it's the same Chrome crap without features, a huge download size, and nothing to back it up in the way of benefits.

Not as much a fail as before, but not yet enough to get a second star. Also, at least 3 orders of magnitude less useful than Opera 12.x.

psycros reviewed v16.0.1196.14 Beta on Jul 19, 2013

I wish smaragdus and the rest of these folks were wrong..but their not. Chrome is truly awful, and Opera, as inadequate as it was in most respects, was far superior before it joined Mozilla in being just another of Google's pets. When Firefox starts using the same engine as Chrome, that will be the end of truly powerful browsing and privacy. They want us doing nothing but watching ads, buying apps and giving out our personal details so we can be marketed 24/7.

Blaxima reviewed v15.0.1147.72 Beta 1 on Jun 24, 2013

I'm sure that when it matures it will not be the steaming turd it is now but, the lack of custom searches, bookmarks and many other things that they have said will not be included are deal breakers for me. Adding them as an extension will simply add another running process and a bunch of icons to the toolbar for something that should be built in.

As if a unified address bar wasn't enough of a pain, the massive google search bar on the speed dial can not be removed. And I'm not joking, the thing is about 4 of your speed dials big. Clearly we see which side Opera is now buttering their bread. Can't get rid of the google search and can't stop the discover page from fetching s*** I don't care for.

The lack of features, choice and customization makes this more like the anti-Opera browser.

niefer reviewed v15.0.1147.72 Beta 1 on Jun 19, 2013

Things change and good things do not last forever. RIP Opera, my friend for last 15 years.

guru_v reviewed v15.0.1147.72 Beta 1 on Jun 19, 2013

I don't believe that Google is necessarily bad, but they are using money to prop up a company like Opera, which is then thumbing its nose at the user base.

By removing things which every modern browser has, and making the browser look like Chrome, but have none of the major features [like bookmarks], Opera is showing it thinks it knows better than the users what's best.

We saw Microsoft at least partially rethinking that one with the rushed refresh for Windows 8: The Abomination. Will the people at Opera get a clue, and return to a path of listening to the users? At this point, it does not look that way.

This is currently a dismal failure, and with the attitude given by some of the people at Opera ASA, it looks as though Opera is trying to be outstandingly repugnant to the users.

A small note - thus far, they are succeeding mightily...

smaragdus reviewed v15.0.1147.72 Beta 1 on Jun 18, 2013

Opera 15 is the end of Opera and the beginning of another Chrome clone. Chrome is the worst calamity that has ever hit the web, worse even that Internet Explorer. Since Firefox is heading to self-destruction as well, soon there will be only Chrome and its clones. Thus Google will possess the web entirely.

kanuac reviewed v15.0.1147.61 Beta on Jun 14, 2013

This is going the way of the dodo. Don't do it.
Opera can excel as it is.

jfnabisco reviewed v15.0.1147.61 Beta on Jun 13, 2013

I have been using Opera for a long time and, to me, it is the one that does things for me the way I want to do them. I tried this new build but I have to say that I really don't like it at all. I like the last build much better. Why don't they just add the improvements to the other design and give people what they like, with speed improvements etc.

Hilbert reviewed v15.0.1147.56 Beta on Jun 13, 2013

guru_v is precisely correct.

There's little more say really except that lemming developers seem to prefer to follow fashion than consider users' actual requirements. Opera is carrying on the same sort of nonsense as Foxit putting in its grotty ribbon UI just because M$ does so in Office 2007.

Right, damn the user, he's irrelevant. I've been using opera for at least 12 years and I'm mightily pissed off by recent releases.

guru_v reviewed v15.0.1147.56 Beta on Jun 12, 2013

It is getting better, which means that more of the features of Chrome which were disabled are being put back. I guess that is progress of a kind.

Yet, the question NO ONE will answer remains...If this is to gain popularity greater than Opera Classic, where will the users come from? The people who liked Opera as it was are HATING this, and the only ones who seem to like it are the sycophants, slobbering at the heels of the new developers.

Those who already like Chrome are being given ABSOLUTELY no reason to switch, as there is nothing in this new Opera which is not already in Chrome, and working already. So unless they are masochistic, and want to go through the growing pains as some sort of "release" there is NO REASON for them to use it either.

SO, back to the original question, who will end up wanting to use this? Will they encourage use as Microsoft did with Internet Exploder, and Bing, and PAY users to use it?

Better, by a fraction, perhaps 0.6 stars, so I'll round up.

cltx99 reviewed v15.0.1147.44 Beta on Jun 10, 2013

I tried it again thinking that I must have missed something, but I didn't. Simply Awful and doesn't even rate a 1 star ranking.

Terumo reviewed v15.0.1147.44 Beta on Jun 8, 2013

This is in eng. and the other in Nor.
I have not downloaded this down, but the former Opera has been s***. Back to Opera 6 and 7 so had the Innovation Awards. I will not download the latest version and even give it 1 star

DrTeeth reviewed v15.0.1147.44 Beta on Jun 7, 2013

Hows the mighty have fallen. What a pile of crap this is now.

guru_v reviewed v15.0.1147.44 Beta on Jun 7, 2013

This is a second release of the "new" Opera. Looking at the notes on the Opera website, it is supposed to have allowed the ability to import settings and bookmarks from Opera 12. It does not, or perhaps It does, yet they are not available, so they are useless - hard to tell, as there is no way to verify this because the bookmarks do not show up.

There appears to be no other progress toward the look and feel of Opera, but a march on to a slightly modified, but easily identifiable look of Chrome.

Should receive zero stars, as it does not accomplish what the changelog says it does.

kiloza reviewed v15.0.1147.24 Beta on Jun 3, 2013

This should be renamed. There is NOTHING Opera desktop browser about this dreadful Chrome clone. Yes, blah blah beta and all that... give it time to add features that already exist in every other browser but absent in this one. Do not waste anymore of your time trying to use this... choose any other browser, even IE, it is better than this imposter.

DaComboMan reviewed v15.0.1147.24 Beta on May 31, 2013

Not even close to half the browser it used to be.

capandjudy reviewed v15.0.1147.24 Beta on May 31, 2013

They really stepped in this time. How on earth is it possible to have a web browser without bookmarks? Zero stars!

guru_v reviewed v15.0.1147.24 Beta on May 30, 2013

As other have said, it is Chrome without the ability to do the things that Chrome can do - in effect, less than Chrome.

The developers are apparently not interested in making the user base happy by deigning to deny or confirm features which will be included. This amounts to jerking anyone who is looking for the Opera we knew around, and is not fair or polite.

Since this is less than Chrome, and I give Chrome 2 stars, that would make this 1 star, only because 0 is NOT POSSIBLE. Were it, that would be the rating I'd give.

winamp reviewed v15.0.1147.18 Beta on May 30, 2013

looks like chrome feels like chrome, where is the "Opera" in this browser. Opera must do right and listen to us. time is soon up!

cltx99 reviewed v15.0.1147.18 Beta on May 30, 2013

Found it by accident on the download crew site. Downloaded it and quickly got rid of it. Really a poor excuse for a decent browser. What is Opera thinking? Surely should not be a pick, just because it's Opera.

DrTeeth reviewed v15.0.1147.18 Beta on May 30, 2013

No bookmarks bar, no deal. Same issue with Chromeium.

Music4Ever reviewed v15.0.1147.18 Beta on May 29, 2013

Hard to evaluate as I usually run though some of my 1800 bookmarks & I spent a fair amount of time looking but they aren't available yet! I can't believe it's been released as a beta - I feel Opera lost their way some years back & I really don't think this is going to be a winner based on what I've seen, I really was expecting more - I will try again at a later date though.

Blaxima reviewed v15.0.1147.18 Beta on May 29, 2013

Sadly it's as many loyal users of this browser had feared, another chrome clone. While it does have a slightly different look to it, the feel is undoubtly chrome.

They claim this to be just the beginning and that they will be adding features to it but the ones they mention are not the mail client, rss reader, notes, bookmarks, basically all the ones people actually want. The fact that they have released a separate mail client which appears to be ripped right out of the previous browser leads me to believe there will be no mail in Opera.

The lack of any customization to accommodate my work flow is the very reason I don't use Chrome clones in the first place. I can't even remove the massive google search from the speed dial and that makes Opera's intentions loud and clear to me.
< /end rant>

Like all chrome iterations, it's reasonably fast but far too vanilla for my tastes. Oddly in the webkit universe barebones features translate into huge resource consumption. If I was a fan of Chrome or any Chromium based browser I don't see anything that separates this one from a very crowded crowd of the same s*** different pile. < /ok, now end rant>