Review: Opera 9.6 and Google Chrome - A Side-By-Side Look

Opera developers recently revamped their browser offering to compete with the well-received Google Chrome. The new version of Opera is 9.6 and a look at the two browsers side-by-side proves that each will give one another some pretty good competition.

However, testing and feature comparison shows that Opera just may be the superior browser.

Both browsers were loaded for testing on an IBM ThinkPad running XP Professional with 2 GB of memory. The graphics-heavy site, papervision3d.org, was loaded onto both. Opera loaded the 3D site in 20 seconds, Chrome in 30. Acid 3 test results were as follows: Chrome 77/100, Opera 85/100.

For tech -savvy users, Opera is a better browser experience than Chrome. Version 9.6 is highly customizable. For instance, a native RSS feed reader lets a user organize feeds and even give them labels such as "Valuable" or "Funny." Chrome does not have a native RSS manager, when adding a feed through Chrome, a user is prompted to download a reader like FeedDemon or RSSOwl.

Opera also has a built-in email client that can incorporate feeds and Notes. Searches can be customized. Keyboard shortcuts can be assigned to sites. For example, reviewers setup channelweb.com to load whenever "ch" was entered in the search bar. A feature of Opera 9.6 is the ability to synch Speed Dial, bookmarks, custom searches, history and notes to port between computers.

Bookmark management is more robust in Opera. Bookmarks can be given nicknames and descriptions, aiding in a quick search against them, even if the actual site URL is not known. In Chrome, there's not a whole heck of a lot to do with bookmarks, besides creating new directories to house them in.

Opera's myriad of skins, widgets and developer's tools lends to its flexibility in become a user's custom-rigged browser. Even the ways the application starts up are varied. Opera can start up on a designated homepage from a saved session or by loading multiple tabbed pages.

There are ways in which the two are comparable. Both have password management features and both browsers can identify sites using SSL Extended Validation. One area where Chrome has an edge is with the incognito browsing capability. Opera hasn't matched one of the more talked-about Chrome features, an "incognito" mode that leaves no trace in the browser or its cache of what's been viewed.

This comparison is by no means a Chrome basher. Chrome has proven itself to be a lightweight and fast browser, and just in its beta stage at that. For users who may want their browser experience without a lot of bells and whistles and with a low maintenance, sparse interface, Chrome may be the way to go. Yet, for those who demand high customization with superb performance, Opera 9.6 is where it's at.