They’d be even more popular if they stopped forcing users to use Yahoo instead of Google.

I wouldn’t really say that they are forcing users to use Yahoo. The search box in the browser is set to Google by default, but the one on the Speed Dial page is set to Yahoo. You can change any of those settings though in the preferences. I only have Google enabled in Opera.

I’ve heard that both of those things before from Blackberry users. Most people who use the Blackberry try out Opera Mini, but move back to the default browser that comes with it. I don’t own a Blackberry myself so I’m not able to give my opinion on it, but I know you’re not alone in your thinking.

If Opera had the same extention base as Firefox, I’d use Opera more, and probably in place, of Firefox, because at its core its a better browser in many respects.

Opera Mini is indeed an engineering marvel, but they need to make a BlackBerry – specific version – its very hard for a Blackberry user to get used to the controls, which are completely counterintuitive for a BlackBerry user. I thought I would get used to it but its been extremely difficult.

I also thought I would use OperaMini more because of its full, desktop-style rendering ala iPhone, but in day to day usage 1-column reformatting is actually more practical.