![[Opera
Software - where more is in less, and less is more]](images/logo_sm.jpg){kind=logo}
The following article contains information on a new web browser called Opera, from Opera Software.
By Helmar Rudolph, initiator of PM
Now this is not really common in software circles; neither the research method, nor
asking for payment before the product has even been released - never mind
designed. My initial thought was that there must be many users out there, tired of
being caught in the browser war, tired of instable bloatware and 'kitchen sink'
products that require more and more hardware just to surf (or is that 'paddle'?) the
web. And boy was that assessment spot on!
In only seven weeks, we received in excess of 3000 emails from like-minded supporters, pledging orders for anything between 1 and 100 copies upfront - unseen! Some declared us crazy -- and we can't even fault them for that --, but the overwhelming majority was in support of Project Magic.
| "I want to send a message to those browser giants that the free lunch is over, and that the time of Win dominated software development has seen its day. OS/2 and other alternative OS's are on the rise." - J. Jones |
Obviously, due to the nature of the project, we wanted to convince visitors that this initiative is worth supporting, and pointed them to our guestbook, to read what customers of ours had to say about the company and the product. Well, have a look yourself - it needs no commenting.
The initial idea was to get 3000 orders per platform, because that would have shown us that there is sufficient interest in these alternative Opera versions. 3000 only because the resulting $100k would have been enough to hire programmers to tackle the projects - and complete them -, but it was far more important to gauge market sentiment and price points than to reach the 3000.
|
"I think the problem with the freeware thing is that MSIE and Netscape
(as free as it gets) are not what I think of as freeware; they're not
gifts to the community, they're marketing tools for server software.
In some ways, distributing Opera as shareware (or whatever you're calling it) is good, it makes clear that how Netscape and Microsoft are abusing the concept of "freeware" is unacceptable." - D. Powers |
Linux? Well, personally, I am a bit disappointed by the response from the Linux users. Those that pledged were very (if not extremely) supportive, both with pledges and advice. But I expected more than the 500+ we got. Granted, our publicity was limited, but nevertheless, if there are millions of users out there, there surely must be 1000+ who'd be prepared to support a quality product such as Opera. Unfortunately not so; maybe there are too many flavours out there and a user base that is too used to free software. Although we have some very interesting pledges, this version may have to wait a while.
BeOS? Amazing; simply amazing. Not only did the BeOS initiative get off to a late start, but looking at the current status and user base of BeOS, I think the numbers of pledges are just superb. Not large in numbers, but compared to other operating systems, tried and tested, and with a user base in the millions, it was a sterling effort. In addition, the average pledge was about $20 more than we asked for. An efficient, streamlined browser for an efficient and streamlined OS? Sounds like an ideal match to me.
Thank you!
I would also like to thank Richard Karpinski at InternetWeek for his article, as well as Trevor Smith, editor of OS/2 e- Zine! Special thanks go to Scot Hacker at BeHive and to Scott Peterson at Be, Inc.. Not to be forgotten... Guy Kawasaki, Apple Evangelist extraordinaire, and Lesley Pennington at Apple Europe..., thanks for your kind assistance and help!
| "This sounds like a great product. Yes I would be willing to support it. Your approach seems refreshing and honest and your product reviews speak for themselves." - R. Welsh |
Thank you to many more unnamed supporters and idea-providers. Thank you!
Last but not least, I would like to thank Jon von Tetzchner, Technical Director at Opera Software, for eventually giving in. It took me several weeks to convince him that we should be doing this, but I know how he feels now. Thanks, Jon. ;-) Thanks also to Sandra Thorbjørnsen for helping me wherever needed.
Last but not the very least, in my lunatic fit, I'd like to thank myself for accomplishing something other companies spend millions and millions on: creating awareness for› their product. Whereas they run expensive advertising campaigns, buy entire media, channels and middlemen to get the people use their products, I did it by simply 'hijacking' other platforms - by putting a Mercedes billboard into a BMW showroom. A simple yet brilliant idea at the right time and place - and it cost me nothing but some late nights in front of the PC and some serious surfing with Opera. ;-)
What you do if you have no money...
Is this the way 'good' companies with 'excellent' products will do their marketing in the future? Could well be. But it for sure is a slap in the face of the big browser manufacturers. Not that I say this, but the user of their products (Have a look here to get ample proof). They might get ecstatic over market share percentages... 'which one is leading', 'which one can add more proprietary tags to make the Web even more (sub-)standard and hostile', 'which one can add more code-bloat that the user despises to the extreme'..., but they all fail to see that people are often using it because there's no alternative, not because the products are any good.
| "I am so sick of the lethargic performance of Netscape, and I won't even consider the bloated and clunky IE, so of course I am all for a streamlined browser. In fact, I've been lamenting the lack of one since the demise of Mosaic. By all means, put me down as a MacOS supporter and pre-pledger." - Anon |
But be it as it may, Project Magic was a sound success. And while I was spending endless nights to respond to several hundreds of emails, trying to allay fears, establishing new contacts and exploring new avenues, my dear friends eleven thousand kilometers further north spent endless nights improving the product - implementing user requests. Without them, PM would have never worked in the first place.
Opera 3.0 for Windows has just been officially release, with lots of new and really useful features and enhancements, and above all with a brandnew hotlist that will once again put all others to shame. And 'no', although we have added a new hotlist, Javascript, SSL, server push, Netscape plugins and a lot more, we have added a mere 400k to the 790k download size, making it a meagre 1.2MB+ download. Quality is definitely in the numbers (or lack therof).
The road ahead (pardon the pun)
We haven't yet decided whether to actually ask for upfront payment, but we will be contacting you if this becomes reality.
All in all, you have shown us that there is a dire need for a small and efficient browser, and we hear you loud and clear. We thank you for your support and appreciate your further input.
From all of us at Opera Software, Seasons Greetings and may you make 1998 a happy and healthy year.
You may be pleased to hear that we have just signed contracts with the OS/2 developers, and expect coding to commence any time now.
| "It's about time that someone recaptured the spirit of Mosaic and created a browser for The Rest Of Us. We don't need groupware. We don't want bloat. We don't want some big server corporation's idea of a marketing tool. We don't want to see our zippy new Macs to crawl like they're slogging through molasses. We *certainly* don't need "push technology" used to shove marketing down our throats." - W. Parker |
We have also been approached by a company offering their help to develop a Linux/X11 version of Opera. We hope to make progress on that front too.
Be is still a bit undecided, mainly because we are talking more of a complete rewrite rather than using most of the code as is. Be, Inc. has offered us tremendous help, and we hope to be able to make use of their resources soon, too.
With regards to numbers, the Mac users have once again shown that they believe in small and efficient software, and have added more than 400 votes in the past three weeks. Our special thanks in this regard go to Netbits for carrying an Opera- writeup, as well as again Guy Kawasaki of Apple's EvangeList for carrying every single PM update. Thanks, guys!
Happy New Year to all of you from us at Opera Software! Today, the 7th of January 1998, is a special day. Today, we got the 2000th vote from the Mac community, who is throwing all their support behind Project Magic. Thank you very very much! It means an awful lot to us, and we will do everything in our power to provide you with the best browser ever on a Mac computer.
But now some progress info: you know that the OS/2 contracts have been signed, and we will soon post a press release announcing happier times for OS/2 users. ;-) Our negotiations on the Mac front have come relatively far, but there are still some issues to sort out. However, if you know of a qualified, willing, motivated and reasonable team of programmers for Mac, UNIX and BeOS, please let us know. We are always looking for professional partners in this exciting venture. Several other things are happening behind the lines, and all I can tell you is that they are really good and promising, so stay tuned for more.
Project Magic extended to Amiga
A mail by Mikael Svensson from Sweden finally convinced me to add the Amiga
platform to Project Magic. Welcome! I 'made' Mikael the PM-Amiga man, so
whatever comes from that, it will be to his and other Amiga users' credit.
Here is your chance! Pledge your
support!
Before you get all excited, let us remind you that we are battling against multi- million -- even multi-billion -- dollar companies, so it will not be easy going. Nevertheless, whereas they have to spend millions on advertising to get your attention, we rather spend time on creating sound relations with our customers -- based on mutual trust and respect -- because after all you are our best advertising.
Finally, before you go ahead and add your name and commitment to the project, you may want to read what our friends have said about us in our guestbook. This should be reassuring enough to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If you have something special to contribute, or would like to write more, please send it to this address:
magic@operasoftware.com
Now if you are ready and willing to support us, send us the mail. You don't have to say anything, just how many copies you'd like to purchase or how much above the $35 you'd be willing to pay for your browser. That's all!
Opera's Features
At a time when almost every software upgrade requires an often significant
investment in new hardware, you will just love to have come across
Opera, our refreshingly different Internet Client.
Opera has a number of features that undoubtedly make it the Number One for the serious online computer user.
It is becoming a nightmare for website developers to make their pages 'best viewed' with one of the big browsers. Using Opera, you know exactly that your pages are best viewed with any browser. You will soon use Opera as your standard reference browser to make sure that your pages are open to all, and not just to those with a specific browser.
Although pretty simple, the mail and news features will be extended and enhanced in the near future. We may even spin them off into separate modules. This will then mean one small, fast, lean and mean program for all your needs. And if you are an advanced user with your own email and newsreader, Opera links to all of them!
It also runs on older PCs; a 386SX with 8MB RAM is already sufficient. Do you know what that really means? The best possible protection of your computer investment. Not really a big issue when it's just a home PC, but if you are in a corporation with hundreds and thousands of PCs, using Opera translates into saving millions on upgrade costs. And with the trend going towards a NetPC, Opera might be your lifesaver.
Dozens of customer suggestions have found their way into Opera. We are very keen to get your input on Opera, because we are developing it for you, and no-one else. We have a questionnaire online, so if you'd like to tell us a few things, fire right away!
Using Opera as a disabled user means being able to access the Net quickly and efficiently. Only Opera makes it possible to navigate entirely with the keyboard, bringing joy and happiness to many thousands of visually or physically handicapped friends all over the world.
Whether you are a looking for an Internet browser or an Intranet client, an info kiosk, CD-ROM front-end or offline browser, Opera can be tailor-made to suit your company's needs. You can develop your content in HTML, and publish it using Opera. Quick, cost-effective and reliable. And with all the benefits a full screen has compared to a fixed resolution!
Whether it's the customisation or the online graphics toggling, the multiple windows with individual settings, or the superb if different address list, Opera offers features you won't find anywhere else.
With version 3.0 JavaScript and server push, SSL and Netscape are all included in a small download package. This means access to more websites, online banking and secure transfers without additional modules, and more diversity and versatility while browsing. Obviously, all 'new features' can be turned off any time.
Installation is a breeze and takes less than 30 seconds. It doesn't eat up your hard disk space either. Requirements are about 1.7MB.
But there is more:
With Opera you can view multiple documents at the same time. The documents are shown within a familiar user interface where you can easily tile and cascade the documents. Opera even has a built-in auto-tile function, which, if you prefer, can also switch off. Opera has a zooming function and supports full keyboard navigation, which makes it ideal for visually impaired net surfers. In fact, it's the only serious web browser that can offer this!
Opera fetches multiple documents and images at the same time. The documents are loaded faster and you need not wait for a single document. You can just browse in another window.
Multiple downloads are also possible at the same time - all in one special download window.
Start with multiple windows
Opera can start up with a number of windows. Opera can also start with the same
setup as when you last exited. Each window can be with or without graphics and
have its own home page. Other settings for the window are stored as well.
These window settings can also be restored while the program is running, adding extra power and flexibility to your web surfing.
No winsock required
Opera runs quite happily without network access. Opera does not require a
winsock.dll. Use
Opera to access your files at home or on a CD
Windows 95/98/NT 4.0
What a question! Of course, Opera is available as a native 32bit version.
Windows 3.X
Opera also available as a native 16 bit application running under Windows
3.1 and 3.11. No win32s is required.
OS/2
Opera runs quite well on OS/2 and it runs fast.
Global hot list
In addition to the user hotlist, Opera has a
system hot list. This hot list can be managed by the
system administrators and include items that are useful for all users. This is another
unique
feature of Opera.
Flexible startup
You can start Opera with different setup files
as a parameter in addition to up to 10 addresses
(URLs). This makes it easier for system administrators to check out different setups
without
destroying their own.