Simple Story

You know what’s twisted? My great-grandfather lost his life starting his car.

A sad but true story involving a hand-crank and a long scarf.

100 years ago you could go further than before with your new automobile but the cost of a little inattention meant you risked broken thumbs, arms and even your life just starting it. Tragedies like these were averted with the invention of the starter motor. Instead of standing in front of your car cranking, it is as simple as turning a key.

That is the beauty, the genius, and the power of the Opera Web Browser. The spirit captured in that simple, profound improvement – the leap from crank to motorized.

One cannot help but wonder if the Opera Engineers are taken at childhood, spending years training, meditating and learning the mystical path of least resistance. Facing each challenge with the simple question, “How could we make it easier? Better? Faster?" (I shudder to imagine their bathrooms)

Just think of browsing the Internet without tabs? It's not that hard to switch between windows (ah, the ALT+TAB days) but Opera found a better way.

Riding a Wikipedia surf-tangent from “starter motor” to “Purple Monkey Theatre Company” while blogging, checking stocks, reading email and getting that Carmel Apple with Chocolate sprinkles recipe and you have to close it all right now? No problem, Opera returns you to your virtual Internet wave right where you left off. Perfect.

Navigate with your mouse? Opera even found a way to make that even quicker. Instead of fumbling for back/forward buttons on your toolbar, with a simple flick of your mouse, you can go control your Browser. It's as close to “using the Force” as you can get.

Using other browsers feel a bit like cranking the engine. Oh, they’ll start and get you to where you’re going but it’s a bumpy ride; not to mention dangerous. When I open Opera, it’s as if I’ve sat down in my super-hybrid car with temperature controlled seat cushions, unheard of gas mileage, ridiculous speed and safety and all I have to do is tap the "On" button.

Opera’s browser is ready to go from the moment you install it; full of novel, useful, and creatively purposeful innovations made without sacrificing any utility.

And it won't kill you.

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no great-grandfathers were harmed in the making of this story