See the Opera mini-banner in my sidebar? Please CLICK that puppy, OK?  [note: I know, I know. The “sidebar” is now buried at the bottom of the blog  Fixed!]
I don’t usually talk about stuff that’s work-related, here, but I’m breaking that trend with this post. (Yeh, I do computer stuff for warm, soft cash.)
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First: if you use Internet Explorer as your only or primary web browser JUST STOP DOING THAT! NOW!!
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But seriously, do switch to a better, more secure browser as soon as you can!
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Here’s a site that’s done a good job of summing up choices in web browsers. HINT: The name of the nseries of pages is Opera Lover. Got it? 🙂
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While everyone I know who has extensive experience and knowledge about web browsers agrees that Internet Explorer (or, as I prefer to call it, Internet ExploDer *heh*) is definitely the worst choice among current browser offerings, the choice about which is best is more complicated.
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While in general I agree with the widely-diseminated conventional wisdom that Mozilla.org’s Firefox browser is the best choice for a wide array of average users (especially those who need a more familiar experience when changing softwares), I use the Opera web browser almost exclusively for a wide variety of reasons, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a bit more flexible about learning new software. If you’re using Firefox and happy with it, though, you may not want to switch to Opera, no matter what advantages it offers: both are much more secure (the primary concern) than Internet Exploder.
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The site listed above, while dealing with an earlier, less-capable version of Opera than I now use (Opera 8.0 which has some very cool additional capabilities), details nearly all the reasons I find Opera to be the best web browser available. It’s a lengthy read (30 web pages?!?) but well worth it, IMO, as a tutorial in advanced web browsing.
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[NOTE: the author of the site expects the new  http://operalover.tntluoma.com/8/  site to be finished by the middle of May with all-new Opera 8 information/tutorials! UPDATE: Site now up-to-date.]
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Take note: your workplace may require the use of a particular browser—and not allow installation of individual software by users. If that’s the case, you can still have better security and browsing by trying out a different (different to IE, that is) browser at home.
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If you decide to give Opera a try, keep in mind that it comes in two versions: a fee-based version ($39) or an ad-supported version. The nice thing about the ad-supported version is that you can specify that the ads be simple text in the upper right-hand corner of the menu/tool bar. Easy to see if you want to and easy to ignore if you don’t want to bother.
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If you fit into the “there’s gotta be a better way to browse the web” category of user, trying a different browser may just fit the ticket for you. I think Opera is the best of the bunch, by quite a wide margin. YMMV, of course.
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Oh, and if you use a Mac, run on Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD or OS/2, there’s an Opera browser for you, too. Even for your phone or other mobile device. Just CLICK.
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