N +

I'm the type of person that if something sparks my interest, I will research it until I've either exhausted myself, or my resources. Later, delving deeper into similar or related topics to reinforce what I've learned but also to ensure I'm not missing out on something I would like even better. When the news first broke that Opera was developing the often dreamed about Nintendo DS Browser, it was on. I never realized I'd end up joining a huge community and meet so many new people. Nor did I ever think I would get the chance to meet the Opera staff in Seattle for the Opera 9 release (3 day trip photoblogged).

My infatuation with corporate culture, consumer behavior, and technology has led me to wholeheartedly respect Nintendo as a company that is changing the more than the face of the electronic entertainment industry and their decisions. Nintendo is widening the demographic with Touch Generations software effectively locking in growth and profitability for the industry, Nintendo DS is responsible for 75% of the 8% market growth this past year, and by breaking down the barriers of complicated controls and expensive hardware, they are making consoles much more approachable. Since I only knew Opera as one of many companies that made a web browser, I had to find out why Nintendo chose Opera to be a part of this movement over developing a browser themselves, and more importantly over the competition.

It didn't take long to see why. And if you are reading this, then you probably understand. I was at Opera's website for no more than 5 minutes before grabbing my mobile phone to download Opera mini. In my mind I thought "there is no conceivable way I could be missing out on something as incredible as Opera mini sounds" as I feverishly entered the download url. My assumption was that Opera mini was just the company's 'business card' application, providing more self promotion than functionality; I was wrong. The misconception that phones can't view the real web crumbled before my eyes, on a device that I already owned! Let me say that again, I could view the whole web fast and at a far lower data cost than my phone's "built in browser" plus it was free ...on my phone! I was impressed; no wonder Nintendo had faith in them for a portable browser. I was able to join the Community, make my own groups with forums, photo albums, links, rules, and more that everyone can share, and I now rely on for entertainment daily. It simply has the most control and storage options of any community solution I've found, and it's rendered perfectly on my phone or DS.

Opera mini was so capable that I left my computer and continued to learn about Opera on my phone as I went out. I later found out that tens of millions of people knew this before me and wondered how long I had been missing out on something that I now use daily. For a while, I forgot why I had even gone to the site in the first place, I was so busy checking to see how well it displayed all of my favorite sites and adding bookmarks that it wasn't until days later that I started to put it all together. Opera for DS provides an even richer web experience that takes portable browsing to another level. Months later while attending E3 I nearly threw a water bottle into orbit when I heard Opera was going to provide Wii with a full Internet experience as well. All of these devices keep me connected to my Nintendo Community, my friends, and new Internet friends.

Opera on Nintendo DS is the least expensive way to access the Internet, and even cheaper for the 21+ million DS owners, and with Opera for Wii, the Internet will only be a single button press away for the entire household. Opera has removed the uncomfortable desk chair from the Internet access equation. It seems to me that no other company comes close to accomplishing this feat. They should have an advertisement where it's just images of landfill piles of desk chairs with the sun dropping off the horizon.

Opera hates your chair.

My passion for Opera grew quickly; I envisioned their ideas of a universally accessible web experience, standards for quality and innovation, and their blatant determination to show people that what they are used to, is not how it has to be. Both Opera and Nintendo are responsible for a paradigm shift in their industries and continue to earn my respect. Best of all, after embracing this new free technology I myself was embraced by Opera's stellar online community. Being able to post blog entries with links and photos from anywhere I may roam, 24/7, has made Opera mini and it's Community an invaluable cultural asset to me now. I believe this Community (and N) is one of the best experiences I've been a part of on the web and it comes as the result of having software so good, that hundreds of thousands of people from around the world band around it.

Opera has provided a quality web experience on devices where the internet was either a dream or an afterthought. And they do all of this with the same code across all platforms, to ensure what you love about one experience will transfer seamlessly to the next. On top of it all, it's not rare to get a personal message from the staff at Opera asking for my input, help, or ideas on ways to make the Community better. A true sign of Community. For me it is simple: From the whole Internet in your pocket, the living room browsing experience that will soon change our perspective on TV's, and the community of users working together, Opera fills the gap.

I'm .ed and that's my Opera Story.

What are your thoughts?
Like Nintendo too?
What is your Opera story?