Posts made by wcolwell

For those of you also using Firefox, it has an extension called Fast Dial that is functionally nearly identical to Speed Dial, though it's configuration is a bit more right-click-oriented and a bit less drag & drop. But it can be configured quite accurately, and looks and feels very much like Speed Dial. I love it. It has the additional advantage of showing as a normal folder in the Bookmarks Menu.

As per many of your comments, I prefer thumbnails too and Fast Dial can be set up that way by simply blanking out the link to icon in Properties for each item.

I keep checking back here once in a while to see how Opera is evolving, as there's a lot I like here. When last I checked, bookmarks and syncing weren't mature. I'm looking again now.

And YES, I'll respond to most posts that reference The Clash (if I see them)!

You're talking about Windows XP?

If so, this is clearly not the best forum for such advice.

But, assuming you're talking about whether you can keep an older computer running Windows XP, I'd suggest you pack it in and do one of the following:

1. Buy a newer computer running Windows 7. That will see you through till 2020. It's amazing what you can find even used on Ebay. I have snagged two HP ultralight notebooks recently in great shape for $125 each, with 250GB hard drives, 3GB RAM, running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, which included Microsoft Office 2010 Starter (free functional Word and Excel).

2. Update your Windows software to Windows 7 (32-bit or 64-bit). But you'll also want to add RAM to get to at least 2GB. If youre computer needs too much new hardware, you're better off buying a newer one.

3. Back up your files and restage your computer with a Linux distribution. If you're new to Linux, I would strongly advise SolydX. Another reasonable candidate would be Linux Mint Xfce edition. These are fairly easy for computer-savvy folks to load even if they are new to Linux. Nonetheless, this will be too complicated for people not comfortable with computer tech. If you or a friend got these loaded, your older computer will run these much more efficiently than it did XP, and if you have at least 1GB of RAM, you won't need to add memory. Some software will be familiar or similar to what you've been running in Windows.

There are lots of good articles on the internet re: this topic (what should replace XP), prompted by Microsoft's dropping support for XP. The basic answer though is NO, you're not safe running XP any longer unless your computer is simply not connected to anything.

For those sometimes using Chrome, there is now a Chrome extension (A+ Font Rendering Enhancer for Chrome) based off the Opera Font Rendering by thunder13 extension, so that runs in Chrome w/o being blocked now. There's another one called "Deblur" which may also help.

I'm drifting back to the Opera blog and forums from time to time to see how new Opera is evolving, but in the meantime settling back into Firefox as my main browser. I guess I should let the Opera updates start flowing into one machine too so I can check progress firsthand off and on (I had frozen at v20).

There are a number of features of new Opera which I consider best in class:

• speed (better even than Chrome, I think, as it has less baggage; of course, some of the Chrome baggage is rather nice)

• font rendering (with extension "Opera Font Rendering by thunder13"); I had this running in Chrome too but Chrome now blocks extensions from outside their store

• Opera's Speed Dial is very slick (Firefox extension Fast Dial is a good substitute though)

I'm waiting for better bookmark support and sync before considering Opera for my main browser (or recommendation to friends and family).

I'm glad to see Opera now expanding latest versions to Linux. Maintaining the same browser experience across 6+ machines (through sync; some Win7, some Linux) is important to me.

I was using Opera Next (v21) in parallel with Opera Stable (v20) for a while and was excited by what I thought was snappier response with screen loads at least (though less "smooth" if that makes sense); it was as I expected if v21 were taking more advantage of hardware acceleration (which Aura was supposed to do). So I let Stable update to v21, but afterwards (initial release) I was seeing a few hiccups (don't recall what they were), so I reloaded v20 and have stayed there for now.

But I do expect v21+ to be faster. I thought I was seeing that in Opera Next. So I'm looking forward to that.

Anyone still comparing 21.0.1432.67 with 20.0.1387.91? Were there regressions with Aura (v21)? Are they fixed now?

Interesting. I hadn't thought about search within Speed Dial. Not sure that is something I need yet. I have things in very well-defined folders ("Email/Comm", "Portal/News", "Banking/Finance", "Computer", etc. and may yet add subfolders (to split Banking from Investments, etc.). Ideally I'd keep the number of thumbnails within each folder or subfolder down to 10 or less.

But I could see the "Computer" folder growing, but Speed Dial probably isn't the construct I want for large numbers of bookmarks. After all, it's supposed to be "Speed Dial", no? LOL

@lem729 I forgot to answer your search question. I just took a look and Fast Dial lets you insert a bunch of search windows across the top of the page(with choices of all search engines you have active in Firefox; I added DuckDuckGo to check; it worked). I haven't used this feature as I just use the combined address/search window for search.

I'm the more pragmatic sort. I'd like if Fast Dial automatically grabbed thumbnails from contained URLs and displayed a random selection of 4 of them on the surface of the folder like Opera's, but the default is a manila folder image; you can add a jpeg icon to each folder apparently though I haven't done that.

I'm not sure about background and artwork generally in Fast Dial. It seems to offer lots of customization (though it may not automate that). I tend to like plain backgrounds so for me background isn't too relevant.

Functionally, I think Fast Dial is very slick, probably more sophisticated than Opera's Speed Dial (but that comes with more menu-driven, vs automated, customization).

I'm still enjoying Fast Dial 4.11 on Firefox. I believe it is every bit as good as Opera's Speed Dial through somewhat different in its controls.

@lem729, you raised the rating issue for Fast Dial. Fast Dial has apparently existed since the days of Firefox 3. Many of the ratings are old, I think, for earlier versions. I just tallied up the ratings done in 2014. 16 in number, average 4.75. If you haven't given Fast Dial a serious look (and you hadn't, based on your earlier responses), you may be missing out on a truly viable Speed Dial.

At this point, in my assessment, it's fully tied with Opera's Speed Dial for ease of use and functionality. There are pros and cons to each. I love the fact that its structure is reflected in the bookmark hierarchy and can be built and edited from there.

I took a quick look at Superstart and didn't like it as well. But I know these things are quite subjective. And Superstart could grow on me if I spent more time with it.

My two cents.

PS: I noticed a comment in the blog that the Opera Team intends to build more bookmarking capability into future versions. Hooray!

@lem729

Fast Dial does show 222k users though for what that's worth.

I'd claim Fast Dial has a learning curve of 10-15 minutes to get productive in building what you want. That could easily generate some negative reviews I'd bet. It's all quite logical and efficient once you're up-to-speed though.

In contrast, with Opera's Speed Dial, you can be immediately productive (zero learning curve, due to more intuitive drag & drop). Then it takes a few minutes to figure out how to squeeze more thumbnails into the page.

@rainspa & @lem729
You should take a look at Fast Dial for Firefox though. I seem able to create the same structure of folders as in Opera's Speed Dial. I was able to adjust Opera's to 6 columns and 3 rows (by decreasing the thumbnail size by a pixel or so in Super User mode, and have been able to get Firefox's Fast Dial to also display 18.

I wish the folders would show miniature thumbnails on them as with Opera's Speed Dial (so far I have only a plain folder look in Fast Dial).

As mentioned before, the tools for building the structure are a little different, more right click menu-driven vs drag and drop, but reasonable nonetheless.

Frustrated with new tab options in Firefox, hoping to emulate Opera's Speed Dial for Firefox's new tab, I just found Fast Dial, which I THINK may work for me. Building and maintaining the structure may be slower (less drag & drop, more right-click actions "add to Fast Dial", "Move", etc), but it supports folders and seems to offer precise control. Also, the structure is automatically reflected as a folder in the full bookmark hierarchy.

The new tab extension I like best so far in Chrome is quite different, "Humble New Tab Page", which provides nice access to all bookmarks. I'll keep looking for Speed Dial alternatives there too, which I'll have to weigh against "Humble New Tab Page".

Still considering browser options in search of the perfect one!

@lem729
I agree that extension "Add Bookmark" is a nice add (I almost mentioned that in the original post).
I also agree that there are ways to move bookmarks in and access them via extensions. I've done that with Xmarks, but that extension hasn't been totally reliable for syncing. I've also copied and pasted speed dial and bookmark entries from one computer to the next. But these are geek activities I don't mind playing around with (like playing with Linux distros). Almost NONE of my family and friends want to do these things. And I don't want to be caught in perpetual IT support for them.

For the vast majority of potential converts, bookmark import, hierarchy, access, export should be integrated into the main browser like they are in Firefox IF Opera is ever to achieve other than a hobbyist following. And, by the way, the Speed Dial hierarchy should be visible within the full bookmark hierarchy too (at least in read/click-only mode)

With these two additions (full bookmark support and sync), I think Opera could have a solid showing in mainstream browser comparisons and win converts.

I know there are hobbyists out there who are perfectly comfortable with Opera as it stands. But mainstream users will miss full bookmark support and sync.

I think the new Blink-based browser is very promising. Of the major browsers, I love the combination of user interface, speed, and speed dial. I get the best readability of all browsers (with extension "Opera Font Rendering by thunder13"). I haven't embraced Aura yet (I'm a version 20 hold-out at present as version 21 seemed glitchy). But Aura may be a good thing too.

I believe the Chromium underpinnings provide more speed and security than Firefox can provide, and Opera seems just as responsive as Chrome with superior settings and settings menus and possibly better privacy (though I tweak Chrome for better security too). In short, I think the new Opera is very nearly a KILLER BROWSER, fully deserving of big market share gains, EXCEPT... it needs to add full bookmark support and sync. Sync could at first be just between Windows desktop installations. Later, of course, it would be nice to expand sync to cross-platform. I can't recommend Opera to any friends in its current state. It's not capable of being one's only browser.

When it has bookmark support and sync (at least among Windows desktop installations), I believe it can enjoy significant market share growth. Would that cause friction with Google? Perhaps... but that's a GOOD problem to have, right?

I suspect I'm a mainstream browser user. I've been curious about Opera through the years and have downloaded and tried it from time to time and then headed back to Firefox as it's flexible and solid and reliable. I love the competition that has developed in browsers though and the resulting enhancements in speed and refined interface. I keep looking because I'm hopeful that I'll find the perfect browser. The new Opera is close. I hope it gets there. If it doesn't add bookmarks and sync though, I'll finally give up and go back to Chrome or Firefox.

@lem729
I agree folders in Speed Dial are superb! It's really a graphical bookmark hierarchy; it's great for a smaller number of bookmarks and something I use a lot more than the big bookmark hierarchy. I have folders for "email", financial", "shopping", "computer", etc.

I added extension "Download Chrome Extension", then from the Chrome Web Store added "Xmarks Bookmark Sync" which I'm trying out across all browsers. It easily pulled in the full bookmark hierarchy from Firefox.

If you make the bookmark bar visible in Opera, I think you can save a new bookmark, then move it to elsewhere in the Xmarks hierarchy (which it will then sync across all your computers and browsers).

I'm not sure that's ideal, but I guess it's manageable.

On the flip-side, I really do enjoy the Speed Dial structure though I feel the text version of that should really show up in the bookmarks hierarchy.

Here are a couple of ideas. You might want to turn off Off-Road first if you have that checked.

Opera 21 is ramping up hardware acceleration, so you could uncheck hardware acceleration in the advanced settings to see if that helps your specific need.

I see this post above this one addresses the auto-update issue.