Why Opera is not So popular being the coolest browser?

[liketobemad]

Recently on 1st September Opera Launches it's new version of browser(version 10) with Turbo feature which can speed up the speed on low Internet connections. The news version have many added features like spell check, Speed dail, new look, glossy buttons - and ofcourse the tabbed browsing etc..
I am using it from last six - seven years..
Now my point is Why Opera can only manage some 2-3 % of internet users.. given that it is in Web world from very long time... inspite of having many cool features?

[galaxyAbstractor]

I haven't had good experience with Opera before, as it was rather slow and resource hog when I used it. Also, some of the functions is better to have as a plugin, like torrent downloads, as some places (like my schools), aren't allowed to install anything related to torrents and torrent download.

[liketobemad]

Opera Supports torrent downloads.. It has an inbuilt download manager which is better than firefox(atleast thats what i experienced) !!! Another cool feature of Opera is the speed dial...

[Smith6612]

I have the newest version of Opera installed. I haven't had much time to be able to mess around with it. The turbo feature is useless for me at the moment considering I can load most things up in 1 second or less since I can download a Megabyte a second, and pipeline Firefox.

[xPlozion]

I used to use it before firefox had an option to open any new page in a tab instead of window... since then, I haven't really used it.

It just doesn't have the apps that firefox has, and thats why I'm not even using Chrome.

I've got Gbookmarks (since i reformat often), Web Developer, HTML Validator (tidy), AdBlock Plus, and DTA!

[ah-blabla]

Firefox seems to be more popular precisely because of its extensibility, (which kind of leads on from the fact that it's FOSS). I am one of those people who depend on that extensibility. I must say I miss the speed dial in opera though, and the plugin equivalent in firefox just doesn't cut it for me. Since opera isn't FOSS, it also isn't as popular in the linux world, where firefox is the main browser.

[jtwhite]

I think it's more of user preference than what the browser can actually do. I personally like how Firefox looks and the feel of operating it, therefore I use Firefox.

I don't feel the same about Opera. I just don't like it, there's no particular reason.

[liketobemad]

Opera do supports plugins and widgets but ofcourse not as popular and versatile as the plugins of firefox...
I think popularity also depends on the marketing strategies.. Firefox advantage is it comes as default with Linux like Ubuntu!!!
Now Google is introducing new features into it's social networking site orkut (very popular in India) which works better only in Google Chrome..
And from what I observe Firefox download manager is not so good.. Many of my downloads which were once interrupted couldn't generally be resumed

[vekou]

for everyday browsing, i just use google chrome. simple and fast. but when i'm going to download stuff, i prefer firefox with DownThemAll! plugin..i seldom use opera since most of its features can be found on firefox.

and oh yeah, i also use IE when debugging web pages.. (stupid IE) lol

[farscapeone]

Yet another browser related topic

As I said many times before I use Opera.

We all know that you can make Opera look and work almost exactly like Firefox and that you can make Firefox look and work almost exactly like Opera (in terms of functionality considering average user). So what's the point you may ask. Branding. It's just like any other brand war. For example you need a new pair of sneakers. If you like Air Max you don't like Converse. They are both good quality and comfortable but you have your choose. Same with browsers.