How do I set Speed Dial Page as my Home Page that opens when I open Opera

How do I set Speed Dial Page as my Home Page that opens when I open Opera

Hello and thanks in advance for any help offered.


I searched the forums and yes, somebody has already asked this question and apparently some sort of answer was given, but when I click the link given as a solution, it takes me to the preferences editor for speed dial. Ok, great - now what the heck are you supposed to do?!?!? I see no suggestions, drop down box etc that makes any diffrence. How do I set the home page to show the Speed Dial tab when I first open Opera?
Here is the link to the prior posters question about this. The answer given is toward the bottom, but it makes no sense to me.
http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=507511




A SIDE NOTE OR SUGGESTION ABOUT OPERA -
Any Pink/Moderators reading this, maybe you should take note - Opera is NOT very user friendly or intuitive as it is set up now. I have been on dozens of different forums, help sites of all kinds and always found my way around by simply looking, checking things out and using common sense to find the answer. I use Firefox, Maxthon, Seamonkey and Google Chrome and I have been able to understand and manipulate them to customize them to what I want and frankly, it took very litle effort to do so. Lets just say this does not work so well with opera. Criticism, yes; but hopefully it will be taken to heart and read with an open mind so that Opera can become more user friendly. You want people to use Opera? Well, who makes up the majoirty of web users - techno-wonder developers, or the "Average Joe"? Then perhaps Opera should gear itself to be a bit friendler to the Average Joe.
Maybe many of Operas users are advanced techies or developers and that actually IS Operas focus, I don't know. What I do know is, my general computer knowledge is better than average and I have become tired of playing around and searching for a solution to this for the last 45 minutes. Like the original poster said - its just plain ridiculous that its so dang hard to make a SIMPLE change! Jeesh! I am looking to replace Google Chrome due to continuing glitches. At least there, they have a very simple and intuitive way to set the homepage to their version of Speed Dial - ya just go to options and put a mark next to Use the new Tab page as your choice for the homepage! Frankly, I was quite surprised to see how advanced and customizable Opera is; I had no idea. I'm glad it gives such options as I'm sure I'll be using a variety of them as I get more experienced with the browser. But the initial gradient of trying to understand Opera and how to make changes is a bit steep and I'm sure it scares away people who haven't a clue what is being discussed. So again, whats the target market here? Average Joe or advanced user?

Thanks for all the help and look forward to learning more about a browser that offers way more than I initially realized it had!

The other thread was about programming the "Home Page" "button" to go to Speed Dial. You however want Speed Dial to open when you start Opera? I do it by closing all tabs before I exit Opera. Opera is set to remember the last page you were at when you exit it. It works with Speed Dial also.

Now if you're asking how to get Opera to start with Speed Dial even when you have not close all tabs first... found it. It's in general settings. Change Continue from last time to Start with Speed Dial. Nice. They have that built in already.

thanks mxb!

A Side Note about posting.

You say "Make it simpler to use for the average Joe" but just look at how long-winded your own post is.

The fact is that Opera is an advanced tool. Although some things could perhaps be simplified, it will never be simple to master a piece of software with so many options — and people are always asking for more features and more options.

Take a look at the Opera Preferences Editor. It is very clearly laid out, but the average Joe is not going to have much of a clue how to use it. Then there is the Cache Manager.

There is a thread in the wish-list forum with some good suggestions to improve the Preferences dialogue. Maybe it will get done one day. There is never enough time in the day to do it all.