Before i continue: this is a comparison between Opera and IE. FF is left out due to lack of experience with it.
FF and Opera beta browers? That's a good one. It doesn't matter what the damn reason is, IE is most exploited. With so many security issues discovered does it still count as 'final'? IE is closer to being beta than FF or Opera, whether you like it or not. I DO think that if FF or Opera switch places with IE, they will be the most exploited. Until then FF and Opera will remain safer. It doesn't matter if you win a race by an inch or a mile. Winning is winning.
I'm using Opera and i don't think i'll switch to another browes anytime soon.
Why not IE?
- I want configurability - IE can't be configured the way Opera (or FF) can. I'm not speaking about security only but about convenience by work. IE is not convenient.
- I want pages to be loaded faster - heard it, tested it, seen it. Opera is faster than IE.
- I want tabbed browsing - IE doesn't support such modern and convenient things. IE7 would? Well, i'm not installing SP2 just because of one silly browser. I'm sick of being forced to upgrade IF i want to use a certain product. This is pathetic crap.
- The only two integrated things in Windows i DO like are Notepad and the calculator. My practice shows that in 99.9% of the cases it's better to use an alternative product and NOT the one in Windows. Zip support is there and it sucks, burning support is there and it sucks, defragmenter is available and it sucks,
firewall is available and it sucks etc.
They are free? From one perspective they are. You get them when you install windows, that's why they're BASIC and sucky. Because they're free. Why should MS try harder when there's no need (kinda logical, i must admit) - those things are free and complains are out of the question. MS wash their hands saying these integrated programs provide ONLY BASIC support and users should install 3rd party software products if they want further support. From a different perspective, however, they're not COMPLETELY free. You do get them with Windows but you pay for Windows, don't you? Just like those commercials: 'Buy this great chef's knife for only $200 and get a free set of steak knives, a knife for cutting fruits, a knife for cutting carpets etc.' The example is made up but the principle is the same. Those other things are included in the price but reffered to as FREE. The average Joe says: 'Cool, maaan, look how many cool knives i get for buying one big one.'
IE falls in the same category as those 'FREE' products.
- IE looks dull, Opera supports skins. True, some people don't like colorful stuff but who said Opera can't look neat & tidy and still NOT boring.
- Opera has a download manager, IE has the function to download files if you get the difference.
- I find Opera to be very well optimized. All this in less than 4MB. IE has larger program code for far less functions. I guess it's because people who make IE are being paid like this $/LoC (amount for every line of code). By Opera and FF it's the other way around.
- Opera has a very helpful feature, rarely needed but nice to have, Zoom it is called.
- Customization by Opera is at an excellent level whereas by IE the only thing customizable is removing or adding buttons from an already defined list. What freedom, what joy, i removed a button.
- Opera has the option to load only cached images in addition to NO images and ALL images. IE has the latter two and you have to complete a quest to get to these options.
- Opera has the ability to save sessions and if a crash occurs you can resume surfing where you left it. With IE God help you not to run into trouble if you have a lot of pages opened and your work is important.
- Opera has the ability to open again once closed tab. So if you accidentally close a page you can re-open it with a few clicks.
The sad part is there are still badly written pages that IE can read and some with streaming media that IE handles better because WMP and its associated formats are property of MS as well as IE. What a coincidence.
I'll sum up:
Opera is about customization and convenience by surfing.
IE is about boredom and conservatism.
Like i said before, this is comparison between Opera and IE. FF is not involved.
I'm sorry for the long post but couldn't stand passive.