Hi Guy's.
I know I haven't been by for a while, but I haven't had much to say, and, to be perfectly honest, there hasn't been very much happening at " Chez Smudger"
However, don't you find it a little "odd" (if that's the way to put it?), how things cycle through life.
When I first started browsing the Internet, I did, as most people did (and still do), use Internet Explorer.
But it soon became apparent, even to a novice Smudger, that there must be something better out there.
I tried Netscape, which was still the "next big thing" out there at that time (no comments about how old I am please - 
) but didn't really find that to my tastes.
So I just kept on looking.
Then, after reading a magazine article by a chap called Davy Winder in PcPro I found the Opera Browser.
It was many of the things Internet Explorer wasn't (and never has been). It was small in size ( and even smaller if you already had the latest version of Javascript), it was quick. The only downer was the fact that it has adverts on the free version, but even they didn't seem to be a major issue - to be honest I barely even noticed them.
But as time went on the love waned as Opera lost its way. I found a new love (the now growing "infant" that is FireFox 
), I dabbled with other browsers, but the Explorer dominance has infected the world.
But now Opera is back - and it is everything it used to be and more .
It is substantially smaller in size than IE6
It is quicker to use than IE6
It has a shortcut bar on the left (that move back, out of the way, when you want it to)
My true (Internet) love has returned.
But my heart is torn.
Should I continue my love for Firefox?
Should I rekindle my love for Opera?
I know what - I'll love them both - and the pity?
Using Windows XP - I CANNOT remove IE6 - Oh well, maybe I'll just let it hide in the background
