First Post, Thoughts from a long-time user
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Hello, this is my first post. I've been using Vivaldi for at least a few years now. I thought it time I should join the community and quit lurking in the corner so much haha. I've been impressed with the atmosphere here.
EDIT: I apologize how long this is or if it should be in more than one Forum category. Apparently, I am quite passionate about this stuff. Thanks for your patience!
I am a tinkerer at heart but often have this core need for tailored simplicity and optimization. Whenever I choose a new app or process, I tend to research and try the "feel" of dozens of options in a given category. I will often revisit this process at least annually. This is true for browsers, productivity apps/systems, file managers, maintenance tools, email clients, photo DAM's, etc.
I've used so many browsers I definitely run out of fingers counting them before I forget browser names; IE, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, Pale Moon, Comodox2, Chrome, Brave, Iron, Vivaldi, Edge, Edge Chromium, Maxthon, {and so many more}. That's just on desktop. Android throws another few dozen in the mix. In my mind, finding the right assortment of Addons and Extensions really makes a difference. Perhaps, in an ideal world they would be built in. Alternatively, it we be awesome if we could create an installer/profile backup? that would auto install a set of configured extensions alongside a fresh install of the browser itself.
In the past I mainly gravitated towards Opera on desktop. At times I would switch to using Firefox. In the more recent past I definitely would add the Stylish extension. The past few years its pretty well 100% Vivaldi on the home desktop. I do have six total browsers currently installed for testing as I do have some outstanding needs. Some are remnants from a recent "revisit" in which I had at least a dozen installed.
The last few years have been a breath of fresh air in terms of UI and customizability. I have eyesight issues and the introduction of custom UI/font scaling, dark themes, and extensions like Dark Reader have been a visual godsend. Features like mouse gestures, keyboard commands, and customizable menus, have definitely optimized my physical interaction times. I don't look visually impaired, but I am reminded constantly that I am (by trying to see, not malicious people). I am able to compensate extremely well with a strong spatial intelligence. I can see well enough not to have to use TTS. I use OS magnifiers daily, but the modern browser features in Vivaldi allow me to go magnifier free in all browser-based activities. I am very grateful to the entire Vivaldi team for their ongoing efforts and the excellent work they do.
The reasons for keeping other browsers on hand are as follows.
- Edge Chromium: Obviously it is built in to Windows. Also, I like to check it out on occasion because I've been pleased with the overall UX direction Microsoft has gone the last several years. I also help others with their machines at work / restore old machines to donate. The other side is the MS account integration (again work related).
- Opera & Opera GX: Testing mainly because I often have to use Opera on android phone/tablets for text size/reflow, and I want an option to sync. I do have Vivaldi Android that I've been trying to force myself to use, but again, reflow really helps. UC Browser filled this need in the past as well.
- SRWare Iron: Another chromium-based browser I am fond of for its built-in privacy, ad blocking, and streamlined UI. I like to install this on older machines (I haven't done benchmarks) and for novice users. To me its nearly ready to go out of the box. I use it as a portable app regularly. It is similar to Brave, but I don't like some of the extra features in Brave.
- Epic Privacy Browser: Seems similar to Iron/Brave. Perhaps more of a gated browser. I also have Tor's installer, but I haven't tried it in years. I likely won't use these. I need a balance of online functionality and privacy.
- Vivaldi
There are a couple of useability features I would love in Vivaldi. I am aware they are already oft-requested features.
The first is text reflow on Android. I would drop all other browsers on that platform immediately. Of course, more customizability would be nice as well.
Opera's Workspaces. I (to some extent Edge's collections and less so Firefox session extensions). I do use Vivaldi stacks, bookmarks, sessions, and the windows panel. I just love the experience of using Opera's Workspaces. It feels similar to WIndows (and Linux before) desktop switching--having a one click or keyboard shortcut to switch from one project or train of thought to another. While researching something I can easily open dozens of tabs at once and have to take the time to glean and whittle them down. Vivaldi stacks sort of work, but I can't see well when trying to drag and drop tabs. I use vertical tabs on the left and maybe that impacts the usability. I also use mouse gestures to tab cycle so I don't have to look. I also haven't found the sessions that useful as each project is rarely static. I want each workspace/session to be saved dynamically as I add remove tabs. I really want to stop projects from cross mingling or having to do lots of extra steps to keep them separate. Opera seems to be a one click /keyboard shortcut to switch between trains of thought or projects. Yes I have ADHD haha. Having this on Android would be great s well.
Here's an example from 20 minutes ago, of a process that Vivaldi has made so much easier.
- CTRL T, "y Resawing without a bandsaw",
- Ctrl T, "no bandsaw, resawing jig -pinterest",
- CTRL T, "i no bandsaw resawing jig"
- Right-Click-Swipe Left, Scroll down, Middle-Click several promising results
- Right-Click-Swipe-Right, Alt-D (Dark Reader extension custom toggle)
I'm certain many users could easily interpret everything I just did.
For new users,- Ctrl-T opens a new tab
- searching "y " is a custom search I have set in Vivaldi that automatically searches YouTube, "i " Bing Images, and I have several others
- searching "-pinterest" is a google search function that filters searches to avoid anything Pinterest. I could write "+pinterest" for the opposite effect. Do yourself a favour and look up google search operators.
- Alt-D is a keyboard shortcut I have set to turn a webpage to white text on black so my eyes are happier.
- Right-Click and swipe is part of Vivaldi's mouse gestures. Here are the ones I currently find most useful Tab Cycle Forward, Tab Cycle Back, Close Tab, Reopen Last Closed Tab, Open Downloads Panel, Open WIndows Panel, Toggle Reader View, Extensions. Settings
The other more ore less recent feature I love about Vivaldi is the ability to customize menus. I have modified the Tabs menu and the Main Horizontal Menu. I reorder, add/remove items so I can simplify the menus visually and remove items I do not access regularly, if at all. I do wish I could customize the webpage right click menu still.
Whew... I better leave it at that for now. Ultimately though, Vivaldi has allowed me to browse the web faster, with less eye fatigue, and less frustration. I am excited about the great work the team is doing. I do have a few things I am hoping for. All that to say, I love Vivaldi.
Merry Christmas and thank you for your time!
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@wissink Merry Christmas, and welcome aboard!
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@wissink said in First Post, Thoughts from a long-time user:
I can't see well when trying to drag and drop tabs.
You could set a shortcut or mouse gesture to move the active tab forward/backward.
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@wissink , thank you for your good presentation and welcome to our community. Since you have used Vivaldi for years, I don't think it is necessary to explain its advantages, but perhaps you will find here some other trick that you still did not know, at least it happens to me sometimes despite using Vivaldi from the first stable version.
Have a happy holiday season and a better new year than 2020. -
Looks like I posted a message twice somehow. Hopefully I am able to clean this up.
Thank you and Happy New Years
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Re: [First Post](Thoughts from a long-time user)
It seems I have to learn the ropes. I lost my first message with individual replies. I'll keep this brief so I don't clutter anything up for the mods.
I am always open to learning new tips.
@Pesala I'll give "tab moving" a try, thanks! I do use tab cycling constantly.
I appreciate the warm welcome and look forward to joining this community. Hopefully one day I can give back in some way.
Happy New Year's everyone. As @Catweazle stated, hopefully better than 2020. Here's hoping for hindsight.
EDIT: Oh now look what I've done. Its a new forum post. The opposite of what I was trying to do. My apologies.
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@wissink Not easy when you try to reply to an old post I presume.
Welcome to the forum anyway! Enjoy Vivaldi and best wishes for you as well. -
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