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Time to stop laughing: Opera hits 50M users on desktop, over 100M total
Opera has announced that their user base has surpassed 100 million users. That figure includes both Opera's desktop and mobile users, with each group accounting for about 50% of the total. Oh, and that doesn't include all the users Opera has on gaming consoles.
From March 2009 to March 2010, Opera's year-on-year growth was more than 30%. And while their share of the desktop browser market is probably still a bit shy of 2.5%, it's pretty obvious that they're moving in the right direction. The EU Browser Ballot screen has certainly helped, but their growth has just as much to do with delivering a better piece of software -- Opera 10.5 turned a lot of heads when it debuted the Carakan JavaScript engine and threw down the gauntlet at Google Chrome.
So, congratulations to the crew at Opera -- and here's hoping whatever they have planned next is just as big a leap as 10.5!
Comments
28
Subscribe to commentsHarshApr 12th 2010 11:44AM
There are about 750 million motor vehicles in the world and look at how many different successful car manufacturers there are. Dozens!
There are roughly 1800 million internet users in the world and somehow people think there can be just a few select browsers to rule them all.
2.5% is nothing laugh at, especially when you consider the scale of the industry.
ghostApr 12th 2010 12:16PM
I switched to Opera a couple months ago and think it is a solid browser. I think they should open it up to 3rd party plugins though. You have to use bookmarklets just to get LastPass working.
JordanApr 12th 2010 12:22PM
Now Apple just needs to put Opera through the App store and they'll gain me as a mobile user
ShigApr 12th 2010 12:35PM
And how many of these are just developers downloading it for testing?
DrekeApr 12th 2010 1:25PM
Considering that most sites don't officially support Opera, very few.
Other browsers probably have a much bigger number of developers who only use them for testing.
r3loadedApr 12th 2010 12:37PM
I like Opera, but it's sadly relegated to the position of secondary browser for me - the lack of extension support really hurts. Many people (including me) initially didn't switch to Chrome, but as soon as Google added extension support, the scene for extensions has expanded massively
AemonyApr 12th 2010 12:48PM
If Opera wasn't so bloated feature-wise and provided only a web browser and not an internet suite, and with the support of extensions I would definitely be sold over their product. Until then it's Firefox and Chrome for me.
Way to go Chromium! Even if their extensions isn't as complex and advanced as Firefox's they are doing a great job, and since two months back I've totally transfered to Chromium after I found out great enough alternatives for all my extension needs.
RocketboyApr 12th 2010 1:15PM
So, you think Opera is bloated, but you want extensions to, what, add bloat?
Lonnie McClureApr 12th 2010 1:20PM
Bloat = unwanted &/or unused features.
Extensions allow one to add only those features that are desired.
DrekeApr 12th 2010 1:28PM
What do you mean by "bloated"?
Opera is smaller and faster than other browsers despite the extra features, and they don't get in the way. All of them are hidden or disabled unless you start using them yourself.
It's amazing to hear people claim that Opera is "bloated" despite it being smaller than other browsers, and has the most responsive UI, especially with dozens of tabs. No other browser is able to handle the amount of tabs Opera can handle.
AemonyApr 12th 2010 2:02PM
@Dreke:
To make a long story short I don't use the included e-mail client, the IRC client, the BitTorrent client, Opera Link, Opera Widgets nor Opera Unite. Neither do I use the mouse gestures or another couple of features included.
Opera is bloated feature-wise since it has a lot of features I don't use and never intend to use. With extension support and/or installation options I can customize the browser I want myself, without being pushed a lot of unnecessary features.
Now think how small the browser would be if it would just be a browser! Seriously, that Opera is already smaller/faster/whatever than the other web browsers aren't an excuse for including mandatory features only the minority cares about.
Chrome or Firefox might be bigger or slower, but at least with them I use my own personalized web browser that has what I use and nothing more.
DrekeApr 12th 2010 2:31PM
@Aemony
You don't use them -- so what? They are disabled by default, and they don't slow down the rest of the app. And Opera is still smaller and more responsive than other browsers.
And actually, removing those features wouldn't really make Opera much smaller because they have designed Opera in a way that reuses stuff to an extreme degree. So the whole e-mail client was something like 150K! Separating it from the browser and making a framework to plug it back in that way could make Opera BIGGER!
There's no reason to worry about the features if they don't actually affect you. And they don't.
AemonyApr 12th 2010 4:20PM
@Dreke:
They are there, that's enough excuse for them to affect me. No matter what you say will change the feeling I get every time I happen to use the sidebar or navigate through the menus. They are of a presence of which I rid myself from years ago, when I switched to Firefox for the first time, and until they exist in that god forsaken browser I won't ever use it as a regular browser.
We clearly have different views regarding features in software. If you haven't understood it yet I disable and/or remove every single feature I don't use in every application that allows me to do it. I've uninstalled WMP, IE8, XPS, Windows Gadgets and every other single service or software I can remove which I don't use from Windows 7. That shows my dedication of having an operating system as pure as possible from unnecessary stuff, whether they affect me or not, and Firefox and Chrome has learned me to ask the same from my web browser.
Sorry, but until the Opera Team embraces a similar standpoint I don't see any use for the web browser, not matter how small/fast/whatever it may be. You may preach its "awesomeness" as much as you want, no words may sway me on this matter.
Case closed.
RocketboyApr 13th 2010 12:45PM
I hate my bloated keyboard. I never use the scroll lock button, and it's weighing down my desk. It also makes me angry knowing it exists.
AemonyApr 13th 2010 1:32PM
@Rocketboy:
I know the feeling, however Logitech has provided us with a solution. Some of their keyboards doesn't include a Scroll Lock key, which was why I bought my Logitech EX 100 (and it was wireless, awesome enough). Check here for more keyboards from Logitech which doesn't have a Scroll Lock key: http://www.fixya.com/support/t954041-cannot_unlock_keyboard_scroll_lock_ex110
I've really grown fond of my own EX 100 keyboard, it only has the keys I actually use and not a single unnecessary key. I happily switched my big and clumsy Saitek Cyborg Keyboard to the smaller and more efficient EX 100 a year ago. Never looked back since.
shehandimithraApr 12th 2010 1:01PM
I wonder how many of those mobile users actually know of Opera on their devices..
LarApr 12th 2010 1:27PM
I've been an Opera Browser fan for years and I agree with Aemony. It would be a great thing indeed if Opera offered separate download products for its Internet Suite and a separate, simple Browser. Until then, especially for anything much more than blog reading, it's Firefox for me.
Even the lack of extensions isn't a big deal. Leaving aside that Opera offers the product for free, I do wish that they would work out some basic stability issues. There are some Web sites that simply do not work on Opera Browser, regardless what the fans insist (I'm using release 10.51): Bing Maps, the StreetView capability of Google Maps, the list goes on. The latest thing is the new blog post composition screen of Posterous. Just going to that page locks it up.
DrekeApr 12th 2010 1:29PM
Opera already is a simple browser by default. Notice how those extra features don't show up unless you activate them?
Opera's features do not slow it down, and they don't make it huge (it's still smaller than other browsers). So what's the problem?
LarApr 12th 2010 10:04PM
Dreke: "Opera's features do not slow it down, and they don't make it huge (it's still smaller than other browsers). So what's the problem?"
Lar: There are some Web sites that simply do not work on Opera Browser, regardless what the fans insist (I'm using release 10.51): Bing Maps, the StreetView capability of Google Maps, the list goes on. The latest thing is the new blog post composition screen of Posterous. Just going to that page locks it up.
KevinApr 12th 2010 1:10PM
How do they define "users"? I downloaded Opera last year, for the first time in about 10 years, used it for 15 mins and went back to Chrome. Am I one of the 50 million desktop "users"? I'm all for the underdog, but I'm even more for openness and honesty.