Firefox rightfully rules as the best alternative Web browser to Internet Explorer. But if you want an alternative to the alternative, by all means tune in to Opera, free at opera.com. Opera opens a nice enough window to the Web with features that make Net navigation easy, even amusing. Here are some notable Opera elements:

Mouse gestures. Open links in new windows, flip through Web pages and more with special mouse gestures. The right mouse button never felt so good.

Voice. With Voice you can tell your Opera browser what to do and it’ll heed your command, like read text aloud. (In a soulless masculine or feminine voice, no less.) The feature comes in English and works with Windows 2000 and XP. The Opera site says you need a headset with a microphone to use Voice, but I was able to get my Opera (on a laptop with XP) to heed some vocal orders without the headgear.

Speed Dial. Opera’s best feature by far, Speed Dial is a page with nine thumbnail links for quick access to your favorite Web sites. Speed Dial pops up when you open a new tab and is a cinch to personalize.

Customization. Speaking of cool customization, Opera gives you ridiculous editing power over your browser’s buttons, panels, skin and toolbars.

Thumbnails. Hover your mouse over a tab and you’ll get a thumbnail view of that site, making multiple tabs that much easier on the eyes.

The Wand. Opera’s password manager takes the guesswork out of filling in logins. It’s like magic, hence the name.

René A. Guzman | 210SA contributor