ZDNET key takeaways

Vivaldi offers the ideal mix of capabilities for everyday use as my main browser.
The shift occurred gradually as improvements aligned perfectly.
These capabilities are available across Linux, MacOS, and Windows platforms.

Vivaldi represents a browser that received limited focus from me in prior years. It evoked memories of Opera, my preferred choice, yet included additional elements and a visual style that fell short of the high expectations I had established.

The extensive set of tools in Vivaldi proved overwhelming at first. I determined that these options cluttered the interface and complicated navigation. Efficiency remains essential in my workflow. Furthermore, the customization options lagged behind those in Opera and Zen Browser, preventing regular adoption.

Some observers might suggest an overemphasis on visual appeal, yet when viewing an application throughout the day, it should appear appealing and integrate smoothly with a refined desktop environment theme, particularly in Linux setups.

Over time, Vivaldi gained notice through added capabilities and interface refinements that made it impossible to overlook. Last week, I dedicated time to testing Vivaldi to evaluate its potential as a practical choice.

The experience proved surprising, leading me to designate Vivaldi as the standard browser on Linux by day's end.

This decision carries weight, given my selective approach to browsers. In recent years, only three options reached default status, with one discontinued and the remaining pair still available as alternatives.

Enough background. What prompted the change to Vivaldi?

The Interface Provides the Starting Point

An effective interface determines browser success or failure. Many accept the standard Chrome layout without question. My guiding principle holds that satisfaction hinders creativity, a view I have maintained for years.

I seek more than acceptance. I pursue innovation that yields distinctive results, which Vivaldi delivered during evaluation. The interface allowed selective hiding of unused elements while keeping them reachable through simple actions, resulting in a streamlined and practical layout.

With full visibility, the Vivaldi interface appears crowded. Concealing toolbars and status elements while reducing tab size produces a clean, unobtrusive design. The sidebar remains available for feature access via an icon near the upper left area.

Ultimately, the browser interface felt familiar and comfortable. Combined with the updated theming system, it matched my desktop appearance seamlessly.

Further refinement comes from enabling automatic hiding for selected interface parts, achieving an even simpler presentation.

This creates a browser interface worth using daily.

A useful note: minimal interfaces support tab navigation through Ctrl+Tab forward and Ctrl+Shift+Tab backward.

Tab Tiling emerged as another valuable addition I had overlooked previously. It permits simultaneous display of two sites within one tab for easier interaction.

As an illustration, an article can be composed and submitted to a content system from the same tab, providing convenience.

Proton VPN Integration

Included Proton VPN support stands out next. With an existing Proton account, VPN access was already possible, yet creating a Vivaldi account for synchronization grants basic Proton VPN features with restricted servers and speeds. Activation occurs through a button adjacent to the address field.

With increasing privacy and security concerns, a VPN proves necessary. While other browsers offer similar tools, preference for Proton made this integration influential.

Customizable Start Page Elements

Many overlook the initial browser page, but Vivaldi enables addition of targeted widgets for greater utility.

Weather, notes, privacy metrics, and a quick news page were incorporated, drawing consistent attention to the start screen.

These elements combine to create a compelling browser option for Linux environments. Testing Vivaldi through personalization is advisable to determine if it surpasses prior defaults.