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# Using Opera

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## Getting started

Once Opera is downloaded, installed and launch, the browser should connect to the Internet using your default dial-up connection. If you experience any trouble getting Opera to connect to the Internet, please read the article Troubles Connecting With Opera.

You may also choose to set Opera as your default browser, which means that it will be used and, if not already running, launched every time you open a Web page from outside a browser. The second time you run Opera, you should be presented with this choice automatically.

### Importing bookmarks and other data

You can import bookmarks/favorites, contacts and e-mail from other programs, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, Outlook Express and some older versions of Opera.

To import bookmarks/favorites go to the File menu in Opera, choose Import and export, and then select the program you want to import from. The bookmarks will then be added to the default Opera bookmarks. You can view and access the bookmarks either in the panels (toggled by pressing `F4`), or by clicking on the Bookmarks menu. Read more about how to use and manage bookmarks in the Panels section.

### Keeping up-to-date

By default, Opera will automatically check for updates, and will notify you if new versions become available. It will also check to see if there have been any site specific fixes that it can apply automatically. If needed, this automatic checking can be disabled using opera6.ini, but note that the site specific fixes are applied separately for each user, and you do not need to be an administrator of your computer to make use of the feature. If automatic checking is disabled, you can still manually check for updates using Help > Check for new release.

## Why Use Opera?

Opera is a program with a large number of useful features and functions. If you have used Web browsers before, you should be able to use Opera the way you are used to if you so wish. But Opera also has many useful features that the commonly used browsers do not have. This and other tutorials are here to help you discover and learn to make use of those features and functions.

Cool Opera features >>

## The Panels

The panels are located in Opera's sidebar, where you can organize your bookmarks, your e-mail and your contacts, keep track of your history, and much more.

The Panels >>

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## Related pages

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