PCWorld claims Browser Wars enter a new round

August 3, 2010 · by Espen André Øverdahl

Looks like PCWorld is trying to fire up the good 'ol Browser Wars discussion again. They claim that we are in a period of "browser equilibrium" because all the different Web browsers are really good, but they don't think this will last forever. At some point, interfaces will get as sleek as they're going to get, it'll be hard to pull any more speed out of JavaScript engines, and HTML5 will be everywhere. Browser developers will need to latch onto fresh ideas - and when they do, their products might once again feel more distinctive than they do at the moment.

Is it harder to choose a browser today because they're all "too similar"? Were there more distinctive differences before? Let us know what you think as a comment and feel free to engage in the discussion on PCWorld.com.

Readers' comments 29

Left under the original article, as archived.

TamilTuesday, August 3, 2010 7:18:53 AM
http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/Yes.gif -
AlexandraTuesday, August 3, 2010 7:33:15 AM
Opera's old logo still here
DanielTuesday, August 3, 2010 7:41:06 AM
The pace of development is so much faster now: Many of the things which first brought me to Opera have since been implemented in other browsers, and any successful new development can't stay confined to one browser for long.
HyaeneLeipzigTuesday, August 3, 2010 8:22:09 AM
I've tested all browsers and will continue to test them all, but my default browser is Opera (as well as on my smartphone).
So I can say, it's not hard to choose your browser.
but to explain good and bad, would be here too long....
imaroonedTuesday, August 3, 2010 8:30:02 AM
"At some point, interfaces will get as sleek as they're going to get, it'll be hard to pull any more speed out of JavaScript engines, and HTML5 will be everywhere."

You better improve your advertising strategy as soon as possible!

Not many people (now there are only 2% of us) will choose Opera when other browsers with comparable speed, look and features are claimed to be the best in their broad-based advertising campaigns over the Internet (and even beyond!)
Anyway, that's what I think
Sami SerolaTuesday, August 3, 2010 9:06:43 AM
Fix the problems with widgets (hopefully solved on next version as I have understood) and put more effort on developing the widgets at Opera Software. Users does not seem to be eager enough to create and update usable widgets, yet... They need more working examples to become interested of making their own widgets.

Give more support for those who are interested to make and update widgets. Maybe some sort of 'Adopt an Opera widget' project would be needed, like there was for Opera skins.

Improve Opera Links by adding tags to describe and search bookmarks. Also make it possible to have social bookmarks.

Continue improving Opera Unite. The idea sounds nice but I'm not using it because I don't keep my laptop connected all the time and at work the company firewall does not allow me to use Opera Unite. Therefore I don't know much about Opera Unite to suggest anything concrete.

Continue improving mobile browsers. They are already extremely good but you can't rest in order to win the possible war For example make Opera Link more accessible for mobile browsers. Currently Opera Link layout and functions under MyOpera pages are a little clumsy to use.

Do not forget Opera Notes! Few months ago it did not work at all between desktop Opera and Opera Mini, so I stopped using it. Just as I stopped using widgets because of all the problems that occur on desktop Opera 10.6. Users (like me) get very easily alienated from using some feature if it suddenly stop working as it used to.

Innovate something completely new to astonish everyone My point is that Opera has many innovative features already but they just need to be made more reliable to win the hearts of masses.
PurgatoriTuesday, August 3, 2010 11:01:48 AM
The only websites I visit on a regular basis are the Monash University site, Google Scholar, this one, and Facebook. Outside of that, I tend to play around with Gopher more often than I do the web (and my own personal site is hosted on Gopher), so that gives you some indication of how much I care about things like HTML5 and Javascript. I'll always use the browser that strikes the best balance between low resource usage and customizability/features. At the moment, that seems to be Opera: it's quick, doesn't bog my system down, I can customize it to use vi-like keybindings, and block unwanted content without having to add extensions.
mistressEVILTuesday, August 3, 2010 11:46:37 AM
There, that's just the start... if they want a war...
Originally posted by mistressEVIL:

Dear Harry, in article you are saying how all browsers are equally good and saying how you use them all, but you left Opera out listing ones you use at the moment. Why is that so?

I think you are not giving Opera a chance at all, or you would see that the "good looks" is actually other browser copying Opera's UI, which is far more customizable than any other browser. Also, if you would have Opera running, you would see that logo used in your article is not the same as icon appearing on your desktop.

And all the yadda yadda about the features that don't come with browser but as an addon. Just because it's NOT addon, it doesn't mean it doesn't exists (eg: adblock inbuilt in Opera)
mistressEVILTuesday, August 3, 2010 12:02:47 PM
Oh! and I had to accept spam (subscribe to newsletter) registering account at PCworld, but I seriously doubt that guy ever made an (non-spamming) account to try out any of the real good Opera features (Unite, Link)... he only mentions Turbo.
mistressEVILTuesday, August 3, 2010 12:39:58 PM
o hi, me again with another thought.

Browser wars are lame... and only triggered by people who are bored and have nothing better to do... probably goes generally for all wars. They just want to have some fun watching people fight over something pointless.
Noone's going to win a browser war, I doubt anyone will switch to another browser because of it.
It's probably smarter to stay out of it; that'd show that we (Opera users) are more mature than others.
But I'll still stand guard ready to protect in case of direct attacks.
MiaTuesday, August 3, 2010 1:37:18 PM
I think it's easy to choose Opera, but hard to only use Opera. Every browser has tools thats useful. I think it's always those tools that will attract users, and not speed etc.
Charles SchlossTuesday, August 3, 2010 2:10:10 PM
http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/Yes.gif -
LucaTuesday, August 3, 2010 3:02:51 PM
we're ready!
Cutting SpoonTuesday, August 3, 2010 5:27:57 PM
I should petition for them to add "browsersmith" as a new simulated profession in Dwarf Fortress. The guy who wrote that little piece appears to just be trolling for some high-quality spam, he doesn't go into anything beyond "Hey look! Internet Explorer isn't the only thing people are using now!"
Anton DiazTuesday, August 3, 2010 6:48:57 PM
Статья ни о чем (я про PCWorld)

ENG: Too watery article (about PCWorld)
AmaZingerTuesday, August 3, 2010 7:26:29 PM
Anton Diaz, who cares? Browser wars же!..
IKokeTuesday, August 3, 2010 10:44:50 PM
Rafael LuikWednesday, August 4, 2010 3:20:40 AM
Here are the main differences that made me choose Opera:

It's ready to use just after the install: a complete internet suite, no add-ons required to do fantastic things.

The Opera context menu, full of commands.

The (Ctrl +) Shift + click or Enter you can use on everywhere in the browser: menus, address field, search field, Speed Dial items , input text elements on pages and of course hyperlinks.

Speed Dial.

Search with defined search engines keywords.

Opera is the only web browser that lets you to select text starting from hyperlinked text, the others hold the link and you can't do the selection at all.

Notes feature.

Opera Link. Desktop < > Mini < > Mobile < > link.opera.com

Point and enter an element to click it (removed on 10.5+), it was a cool feature to avoid mouse click sound (seriously).

Opera Software cares about the future of the web and standards.

No other company has a great community/forum like My Opera is.
Erik ShikerinWednesday, August 4, 2010 8:42:58 AM
Opera devs will always "latch onto fresh ideas", so don't worry, PCWorld!

Anyhow, by the time JavaScript is 100% optimized, some other web standard will emerge, and we'll all be fighting for speed on that one.

Equilibrium won't happen. Perpetual motion does exist - in innovation.
praetor87Wednesday, August 4, 2010 9:12:34 AM
The new round should late. Looks like nobody won't take a big step forward from the Google-Apple-Mozilla-MS. It should be the Opera, who can change this status quo, or another big guy will come in the arena?
prd3Thursday, August 5, 2010 11:41:03 AM
Originally posted by imarooned:

Not many people (now there are only 2% of us) will choose Opera when other browsers with comparable speed, look and features are claimed to be the best in their broad-based advertising campaigns over the Internet (and even beyond!)

LOL.

Opera has more than 120 million users. That's the result of massive growth lately.

People will keep choosing Opera at an accelerating pace, just as they have already.

Google will NEVER be able to compete with Google's advertising monopoly, but that doesn't mean it'll suddenly crawl up and die.
Free downloadsThursday, August 5, 2010 3:53:32 PM
when i met opera browser it was really different. to me it still is. but if i were to meet opera today, i would not be motivated by the ''appearence'' as before.

andi if you haven't noticed... it is just like google chrome; and if it is not enough, thn, count firefox in too. 3 browsers, same thing.

however, i use opera for a million of other features, like unite, notes and speed, of course. but i'm a clever and concerned user.

are all the other world-wide users concerned and aware as we that post in myopera? i don't think so.

when i think of opera, i think that something MUST come to make opera noticeable again to first trip users.

of course the most loyal user will be happy to.
Gavin Tripp-SheedySaturday, August 7, 2010 11:20:21 AM
Opera is the only non-native mobile browser I've used, and the only one that does the job.
Matt IrelandSaturday, August 7, 2010 10:57:33 PM
Looks like PCWorld is trying to fire up the good 'lo Browser Wars discussion again.They claim that we are in a period of "browser equilibrium" because all the different Web browsers are really good, but they don't think this will last forever. At some point, interfaces will get as sleek as they're going to get, it'll be hard to pull any more speed out of JavaScript engines, and HTML will be everywhere. Browser developers will need to latch onto fresh ideas - and when they do, their products might once again feel more distinctive than they do at the moment.
John BarnettSunday, August 8, 2010 4:50:55 PM
I have tried IE8, Chrome, FireFox, but keep coming back to Opera because I like the way it has the e-mail program intergrated into the browser, however I find I have to keep using the other browsers more because they opera dose not have the option to use the tools I mention under the Intergration heading.

If Opera want's to be at the top of the so called browser wars then I would like to see the following.

Widgets: It would be nice to be able to place an icon of a widget onto one of the toolbars not every widget installed just ones one uses the most.

Intergration:

Opera has the ability to use twitter & facebook via the browser, I would like to see these other programs intergrated into opera (Not Addons like the other browsers)

Diigo, evernote & Zotero.

To use these tools one has to use Fire Fox, Chorome, IE. Except for Zotero as it only works in FireFox.
Cutting SpoonTuesday, August 10, 2010 12:45:17 AM
Twitter and Facebook sites work very well in the Panels bar.

For Widgets I mostly wish I could set a default installation option, and could set some widgets to load when the OS logs in.
Charles SchlossTuesday, August 10, 2010 12:51:52 AM
Originally posted by hellspork:

set some widgets to load when the OS logs in.

Might be able to since widgets can run separate of the browser, just in the start up programs/ apps add the widget to the list of start up items
Cutting SpoonTuesday, August 10, 2010 1:04:04 AM
I know how to do that, but plenty of other people don't. And if they ever uninstall the widget, they will get "file not found" errors every time they log in! It would really help if this was an option.
Alex JSaturday, August 14, 2010 8:06:42 PM
It is getting more difficult to see a difference in just regular browsing, but Opera has the fastest, especially on older computers. Opera also has the best features and can do many things than other web browsers can. Opera is the best in my opinion.