< 
I use a number of different Windows Mobile based devices (and have used a number in the past) but have always only been just about satisfied with the mobile web experience. At least satisfied compared with WAP on a Nokia 7110 if people remember back that long.
The Internet Explorer derived browser that has been present in all of those devices basically displays the simplest, smallest pages only and never makes use of the higher resolution screens and a reasonable navigation method of more modern devices. I have seen the iPhone with its nice browser and the ability to display full web pages and zoom in/out of those to give what is certainly a better (if still a little flawed) experience.
So I have looked around for what I could to replace the standard browser and give me something that will display proper web pages in a zoomed out but still navigable by zooming method. The first I have tried (and I will look at others) was Mobile Opera. This I picked because it seemed to be the most mature of the browser alternatives.
I downloaded the installer…followed the instructions… and failed to install. Essentially no matter what I did with the Windows based MSI installer, it never appeared on the phone. I can put this down to running Vista and Windows Mobile Device Center as I have seen this behaviour before. But wait, that was months ago and Vista has been out for almost a year and Windows Mobile Device Center the same in Beta form at least. This is unforgivable from anyone today.
So I tried the .cab alternative, and it actually installed. This was even onto the memory storage card as there was no way I was going to give up 6MB of valuable storage to a browser on my memory restricted Windows Mobile 6 device (a Vox S710 by the way). Now comes the rub, I tried a number of sites (both mobile and full) and I kept getting http file not found errors (401) on these sites. Ah could this be my connectivity I hear you ask, but no. I browser those sites from the same device using the Pocket Internet Explorer browser without the same problem.
This is doubly unforgiveable – it simply does not work. What amazes me is that Opera actually believes you will pay for this? The software is off my phone, and I will now move on to what I can find next. 
]]>
