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Despite a minimal cost ($30) and small size (1MB), Opera is a World Wide Web browsing tool that gives a stellar performance. While the product presently appears only on the Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 platforms, Opera might be an excellent choice as a primary or secondary browser, depending on your needs and resources.
CURTAIN UP!
I first saw reviews of Opera on a library listserv in the fall of 1997. This review is based on a beta version of the soon-to-arrive version 3.0; it can be easily and quickly downloaded from the Web site (http://opera.nta.no). Developed and written by Opera Software AS in Oslo, Norway, the program is shareware. A fully-functioning 90 day evaluation copy is available; after the witching hour the program renders itself unusable unless purchased.
I ran it on a Pentium with 16MB of RAM, but the company proudly states that Opera runs well on 386sx machines with as little as 8MB of RAM, and can even run with as little as 4MB. This makes Opera an excellent choice to run on older machines that have not been upgraded and cannot effectively handle Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. For organizations such as educational centers, other nonprofits, and older parents who have inherited their adult children's castoff computers, Opera might be a great option.
OPENING ACT
Despite its small size, Opera has clearly labeled buttons and options, and handles work on the busy desktop very smoothly and efficiently. The display bar is an information center all its own and can easily be moved to the top...