Speed, Innovation, and Flexibility in the Ring

August 10, 2011 · by .ed

CBS News sure is excited about having an infographic in their latest browser round up entitled An Infographic! If Web Browsers Were Wrestlers...

What I'm not excited about is the low marks Opera earned in flexibility (I'm not going to get into speed and innovation here, Opera has proven itself in those categories before). What did they think limited Opera's flexibility? My guess is the designers of the infographic missed something. Like Extensions, Speed Dial, Widgets, Opera Turbo, Mail, Opera Dragonfly and other Developer Tools, Opera Link, Opera Unite, Skins, toolbar customizations, and the 4,000 other devices Opera works on...

I challenge this infographic to a 1 on 1 cage match, no hold barred!

Maybe they should hear it from you guys!

Readers' comments 50

Left under the original article, as archived; 1 page of comments could not be recovered.

.edWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:03:55 PM
Edit: I added some links so others wouldn't miss out on Opera's flexibility, by any definition, too.
HurrWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:09:54 PM
You shouldn't blame their ignorance. They obviously don't know anything about browsers. Both firefox and chrome should score full marks on flexibility, since they're open source and therefor anyone can change anything. Then again, I don't know of anyone who does this, so basically all the browsers are the same because they all support amazing customizability.

Fact is, Opera is a modern day browser which can certainly keep up with competition. "Keep up" isn't the right combination of words because it's been proven Opera is much better in certain areas, and doesn't lack behind anywhere.

Long story short, there is no 'best browser' It all comes down to preference, fanboy-ism and false stats (opera has been gaining marketshare, yet the numbers show otherwise... peculier to say the least)
Charles SchlossWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:17:26 PM
I agree
.edWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:17:49 PM
You're right. I think the goal with the story was to have an infographic, and not really do research. Even the infographic has priority in the title.
didisupriyonoWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:21:55 PM
Remco LantingWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:22:03 PM
It looks like they tried to do their homework: http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-501465_162-10008957-5.html?tag=page;next

But being in the US they probably don't know what a Swiss Army knife is
ouzowtfWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:26:33 PM
What did the creator of this "infographic" drank when he gave Opera less flexibility points than IE and safari?
AercyWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:29:27 PM
what really bothers me is that ie is a bar higher

Originally posted by ouzoWTF:

ouzowtfouzoWTF # 11. August 2011, 05:26
What did the creator of this "infographic" drank when he gave Opera less flexibility points than IE and safari?

...and safari haha
Rafael LuikWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:42:22 PM
LOL at the whole inforgraphic, specially Firefox innovation!
The cartoon itself is very cool.
Paweł PawlakWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:43:39 PM
Chrome has received 5 points in "innovation"? LOL
While Opera Software is working on some real features, like e.g. Opera Turbo, Opera Link, Opera Unite, Google is adding some childish improvements, like the latest "Instant Pages", which is by the way the most stupid and useless innovation (at least for me). I think that the creator of this infographic should spend more than 5 minutes on every browser, besides the Google Chrome, which I believe is his favourite one...
EDIT: And Firefox received 4 "innovation" points for what? For copying interface from Opera? They did it wrong after all - these new menus on Firefox are working horrible. The whole browser is working worse than Opera or Chrome...
İlker ŞenWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:43:55 PM
yeah
NimeshWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:44:49 PM
Interesting but not accurate.
How is IE's flexibility better than Opera?
And why is rockmelt here when the market share is unknown?
James CookWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:44:52 PM
The article relied on the infographic company for the research (so says the article: "Relying on their [read: Freestyle Interactive's] market research, they ranked each browser by market share, innovation, flexibility and speed - all the important factors.").
junaidakhtertheonlyoneWednesday, August 10, 2011 9:59:08 PM
i can't belive crome got highest score. Firefox < Crome < ie 9 = opera
Daniel AnghelWednesday, August 10, 2011 10:17:59 PM
Opera is the only browser who should receive 5 stars at innovation and flexibility.
HPearceWednesday, August 10, 2011 10:21:46 PM
My guess is they took what may be considered the knowledge required to use the INI's for high customizations etc as actually a negative for not being simpler. Almost as if no customization were better.
CristianWednesday, August 10, 2011 10:22:34 PM
OPERA is really better than chrome.
Mircea VasileWednesday, August 10, 2011 10:26:10 PM
Next thing you know IE will be the most secure browser
Opera is the best, most flexible browser atm and other browsers like Firefox keep stealing from Opera without shame
Only a few, very special people, appreciate Opera for what it really is and that is THE BEST BROWSER in the World
J. KingWednesday, August 10, 2011 10:31:23 PM
I'm with you, E-man. This is total bollocks, full stop.
shadow2020Wednesday, August 10, 2011 11:05:14 PM
I love Opera, I use it since it was ad-ware, but at work I have to use any other browser because google docs don't work with Opera, is unusable. And then I get used to the other borwser (Chrome in particular) and I start using it everywhere instead of Opera. Sad
Obese MauriceWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:20:42 PM
>chrome
>innovation

choose one
Thu WinWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:33:21 PM
Google Chrome innovative? Ha! It doesn't even have a native RSS reader like IE! Also, it seems to mess up my internet setting after it set itself up as the default browser. Switch back to IE but the "Internet key" on my keyboard is still defaulting to chrome. Uninstalled chrome and it no longer works. Had to do a system restore to the time before Chrome.
Ronald SibbaldWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:52:45 PM
You must forgive the author he knows it must be American to be any good.
Ive been using computers for almost 60 years. As a retiree I use Opera because it has the versatility none of the others have. I can lay back in my chair a browse with a mouse and never have to use a keyboard. If the print is too small, use fit to width and the slide magnifier. If I can't read text because the web designer likes dark blue text on a black back ground or light gray on medium gray I just select B/W, W/B or accessibility. I don't like a drab interface without colour so I use a bright colourful skin. Colour icons are easer to identify. because I use so many extensions there is one change I would like to see a drop down list of extensions instead of them taking up Search window space
webtaxWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:53:07 PM
An Infographic! If Web Browsers Were Wrestlers...

cool story bro
Matthew LaBrakeWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:57:07 PM
how does chrome have more flexibility than rockmelt?
its the same browsers except rockmelt has MORE features built in to flex with. Fail.
Thu WinWednesday, August 10, 2011 11:59:05 PM

Google Chrome is trying to set itself up everwhere, against the wish of the user. It set itself up as the default browser (at least my "web" key on the keyboard open up Chrome) even after I switched the default back to IE9. Uninstaling Chrome breaks the web key functionality.
Thu WinThursday, August 11, 2011 12:01:39 AM
Originally posted by mlabrake:

how does chrome have more flexibility than rockmelt?
its the same browsers except rockmelt has MORE features built in to flex with. Fail.

Rockmelt kinda looks like Chrome...
Luciano GasparettoThursday, August 11, 2011 12:41:41 AM
How so Opera is not the most flexible, fastest and innovative? Chrome has almost nothing that Opera has and is considered more innovative! How? This infographic can only have been made at the request of Google.
Rafael LuikThursday, August 11, 2011 12:51:43 AM
Originally posted by lgasparetto:

This infographic can only have been made at the request of Google.
Nah, it's just, they aren't Opera users so they don't know the features.
AsiresThursday, August 11, 2011 2:03:31 AM
This "review" is usa based where rokcmelt is popular and no one know about Opera.

Real scores (for Windows):
Firefox
Innovation---***
Flexibility--*****
Speed---------**

Chrome
Innovation-****
Flexibility----***
Speed-----*****

Opera
Innovation*****
Flexibility---****
Speed------****

Safari
Innovation---**
Flexibility-----**
Speed--------**

Rockmelt
Innovation-****
Flexibility----***
Speed-----*****

IE
Innovation---**
Flexibility-----**
Speed-------***
Phillip Robert O'ConnerThursday, August 11, 2011 2:07:12 AM
Those Second Class CBS Know-it-all think they know everything:no: and CBS news Better Bring A Umbrella Cause it Raining Cold Hard Fact Up in Here on Ring.
Phillip Robert O'ConnerThursday, August 11, 2011 2:09:24 AM
Opera is The Best Browser in The Ring and in The World.Those Five Others better bring a umbrella cause it Raining Cold Hard Fact up in here.
virtualskyThursday, August 11, 2011 3:31:56 AM
RockMelt? Who chose that as a "contender" in this comparison? There are much better browsers out there than that.

It's insulting that they gave Opera the same in "flexibility" as RockMelt, as it doesn't even have a Linux build. Not very "flexible" at all, if you ask me. Should have put SeaMonkey or Galeon in it's place. Those are ten times better than RockMelt, as far as I'm concerned.

Notice security or privacy never made it into the "comparison".

Of course, you have to consider from where this article is coming. I mean, it is CBS, a main-stream propaganda cartel. When has the "main-stream" ever gotten the facts straight?
Ernesto Guevara RamírezThursday, August 11, 2011 4:49:16 AM
Wow, this is really intense.

I've been using Opera since the 9 version, and it has always been a loyal and beloved browser to me. I recommend it to every person I can. I t is Awsome!

The only thing I've been hearing a lot it's the apparently lack of html 5 integration or support. So if anybody here has the data on how Opera is integrating html 5 or is html 5 ready, please let me know, I'll appreciate that.

Greetings to all the Opera team, and all the Opera fans
Jirayu YingthawornsukThursday, August 11, 2011 4:51:48 AM
Opera Extension API is very limit comparing to Firefox (someone said even google chrome)

btw, what Opera has is enough for me
sispolThursday, August 11, 2011 5:00:21 AM
Opera is the most flexible, fastest and innovative.
Andrew WoronieckiThursday, August 11, 2011 6:29:23 AM
I gave 'em a piece of my mind in the article's comments.
Sami SerolaThursday, August 11, 2011 6:32:46 AM
Clearly the reviewers have not really tested Opera
Tiago WakabayashiThursday, August 11, 2011 6:47:11 AM
Opera less inventive and Flexible? I stopped.
griffithorThursday, August 11, 2011 9:55:50 AM
Ugly subjective infographic.
MasonThursday, August 11, 2011 10:32:02 AM
Originally posted by cbsnews:

Chrome and Firefox: fast and flexible with loyal development communities.

>Firefox
>Fast

Well, there's your problem right here ;D
D1sasterp1eceThursday, August 11, 2011 11:09:48 AM
Why does Chrome get 5 points for innovation when it's just the Chromium project browser branded by Google?
rogerwilco75Thursday, August 11, 2011 11:23:05 AM
Wrestling?! Isn't that the fake sports event, where everyone actually knows that they aren't really fighting and it's more of time filler in between commercial breaks?! Can hardly expect real & honest competition in that kind of 'sport'.
ChirpieThursday, August 11, 2011 12:41:21 PM
Originally posted by HuRRaCaNe:

Both firefox and chrome should score full marks on flexibility, since they're open source and therefor anyone can change anything.
That's wrong. Hardly anyone can. Even programmers won't be able to change much unless they spend ages reading the code and understanding it.
VasjaThursday, August 11, 2011 12:52:21 PM
Originally posted by griffithor:

Ugly subjective infographic.

+1
Originally posted by rogerwilco75:

Wrestling?! I

Yes, just wrestling. Lamer law wasn't written.
junaidakhtertheonlyoneThursday, August 11, 2011 2:28:50 PM
let the idiots do whatever they want to do .of course idiots woun't understand importance of opera .only those who have brain in there head can only understand it's use.
(It's from my experience).
I have seen opera with those who are technicaly advanced.
VasjaThursday, August 11, 2011 8:31:02 PM
Originally posted by rose12328:

...
Kill spamer please.
sirnh1Thursday, August 11, 2011 8:52:37 PM
I can't help but to wonder, what version of opera they tested with? I mean would they know that their install of opera 8 isn't up to date anymore? Maybe someone should tell them that there is a newer version out.

No seriously, how was firefox be able to get 5 points for 'flexibility, when all it does is copy opera related stuff? (And don't get me started on the on the fact that even installing a skin still needs a restart, right-clicking on a toolbar and clicking 'customize' only lists you 21 buttons. So by that defenition 'flexibility' means "whatever you need to change install an extension, because this browser can't do it by default"
VasjaThursday, August 11, 2011 9:58:46 PM
Originally posted by sirnh1:

how was firefox be able to get 5 points for 'flexibility
Don't worry, it's advertise only. Google paid. $)
rilogThursday, August 11, 2011 10:20:27 PM
Originally posted by Vasja72:

Don't worry, it's advertise only. Google paid. $)

Don't worry, I don't think they got paid to advertise a specific browser, it's just plain old ignorance.