REQ: Opera 8.50 (now ads-free!)

[knopperking]

Now that Opera is ADS-FREE, it would be awesome to have this web browser included!

http://www.opera.com/free/

Thank you for Knoppix!

[Harry Kuhman]

Unfortunately, free is different than freely redistributable. You can download a copy of Opera for free. That does not mean that Klaus is free to include it in Knoppix. More importantly, even if he were to ask for and receive permission to include it in Knoppix, it does not seem that the freedom to redistribute it would pass along to anyone who makes a remaster disc based on Knoppix. This is a serious problem. It's not just a matter of one browser, think of the hundreds of programs (maybe thouanads by the time the DVD version gets full). If someone remastering Knoppix had to check on the legal status of each program and get permission to include it in their remaster, the ability to use Knoppix as a basis of a remaster system would be destroyed. So Klaus has wisely decided to stick with truly free open source software, not "free" software in the Opera sense. There are already several good and free browsers in Knoppix. I don't see a need for one that is less free than open source.

[sakiZ]

Knopperking,

You had way better luck with Opera than I did.

I tried downloading and installing 2 different deb packages and the first would not install. The second installed with no errors but when I clicked on the icon nothing happened.

So.... I downloaded Firefox Beta 1. I'm using it right now in Knoppix. I've been using it since day one at work with no problems.

At work I also tried Opera for Windows but found the browser way to quirky for my taste. Firefox seems to autoconfigure itself with little need to tweak much if anything. Opera was not like that and the display was not even as crisp. I wish Opera well. It IS really fast. I'll say that much for it.

sakiZ

[mjolnir]

I too wish Opera could be included in a distro but I understand why that is not possible. I have used it on Windows 95, 98se, ME, Xp, several Linux distro's, NetBsd2.0, and on a PalmOS PDA. IMO no other browser comes close in comparison. I had a pirated key for it but thought so much of it that I went ahead and bought it anyway. To be honest with you I wish it wasn't free now because with the companys interest switching to smartphones and other small devices I am afraid development of the main browser will lag behind.