Opera 8
 

Opera Software ASA has released Opera version 8 this time with voice support (and yes, it works very well).

Although Firefox is on my machine, and I use it, I don't use it as much as I do Opera. It has always been fast. I loved the gestures when they were introduced in version 5. There is no ad-blocking per se, but you can download a stylesheet that removes them from view (you can define your own stylesheets to force certain websites to look the way you want regardless of the author's settings!). Search Google for "adblocker.css opera"

You know that computer commercial where the guy, obviously looking at porn, has his wife come down to check and see what he's doing on the computer and he can't turn off the monitor fast enough? Hit a key to remove images from the current view.

Want to navigate using one hand? Hit Z to go back one page, X to go forward. Hell, you could even use the aforementioned voice capability and say "Opera, Back" and go back one page. :)

I've used it since 2.12 and I've always had a soft spot for it. Super fast, super small.. I can't say enough about it.

nothing to see here people. move along.

I have always liked Opera, the bummer is not many people I know would actually pay for a web browser, when they can get one for free (or even have one built-in).

I will have to check out the new one though, sounds pretty cool.

I've been using opera for a while now, and like it a lot. Opera 8 starts up way faster than previous versions, so that's a bonus.

One downside so far: I now have a "close page" button (X) on the tab of that page, instead of in the right-top corner where it used to be (windows standard). I keep moving my mouse to the wrong place. :)

I like having the close tab button on the tab itself. I hadn't tried Opera since they went to the google text ads as the default. The ads hardly take up any space which was always my big gripe about the graphical ads.