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Waterfox is a 64-bit version of Firefox. The browser's developers modified the Firefox source code specifically for machines running 64-bit versions of Windows. Software designed for 64-bit Windows editions can take advantage of faster RAM and processing speeds and greater stability in 64-bit systems. Just converting Mozilla's source code for 64-bit Windows doesn't do enough to make Waterfox stand apart from Firefox and other Firefox-based Web browsers; other unique tweaks help it exploit the speed of 64-bit systems. As the Waterfox Web site states, speed is its mission.
When we first opened Waterfox, it displayed our bookmarks and other personal data from Firefox. When it comes to looks and extras, Waterfox doesn't disappoint in a side-by-side comparison with the latest Firefox release. Waterfox has a family resemblance to other Mozilla-based browsers, with a dark blue Start button instead of Firefox's orange. Otherwise, Waterfox looks and functions like Firefox, including its various customizable features and options. Our add-ons, extensions, and plug-ins worked in Waterfox, too, including Microsoft's Office and Silverlight plug-ins. Waterfox also has regular updates.
We could tell with just a few quick trips to familiar sites that Waterfox is fast, so we visited some of our favorite browser speed test sites to see how it stacks up against the competition, including Firefox and our current default, Chrome. For the most revealing results, we threw Peacekeeper's HTML5 torture test at each, pitting Waterfox against the site's Chrome benchmark and our own copy of Chrome.
This online benchmarking tool separates the smartphones from the gaming desktops with a series of increasingly grueling tests that took some 5 minutes to run through. Waterfox bested Firefox but not Chrome, both in speed and HTML5-rendering capability, though the results were close enough to make it a matter of choice. Raw speed tests with CNET's Bandwidth Meter produced much closer results. Chrome held a consistent edge, but Waterfox is fast, too. Subjectively, it "feels" fast, which might be the advantages of 64-bit operation. In any case, we like Waterfox a lot. If you prefer Firefox but run 64-bit Windows, give Waterfox a try.
Publisher's Description
From Waterfox:
Waterfox is a 64-Bit version of Firefox. The Firefox source code is taken and compiled to run specifically for 64-Bit Windows computers. To make Waterfox stand out a bit more, it's compiled with optimizations so that it will run more efficiently and faster than just compiling Firefox as a 64-Bit program. Waterfox was the first community Firefox builds to release a 64-Bit version of Firefox 4 when it first came out.
What's new in this version: Version 15.0 adds support for SPDY networking protocol v3.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 35 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
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"The Best Browser Overall."
Version: Waterfox (64-Bit) 15.0
Pros
Ideal browser for the 64 bit users out there but a excellent choice for anyone really. Super fast and I wouldn't take too much notice of the speed tests quoted here. If you do the research you will see it varies from test to test. At our computer shop, we run our own test and it came out first for speed followed by Pale Moon, Chrome and then Firefox although those two were so close, it is not worth mentioning.
Cons
Never found anything to report.
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"Amazing! Gorgeous! Just Dandy!"
Version: Waterfox (64-Bit) 15.0
Pros
This freakin' browser's a beaut. Has none of the freezing, jamming etc. problems that Firefox has with my 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. It--Waterfox--virtually moves like lightning.
Just a note: I mistakenly tried to download Waterfox onto my Vista 32-bit OS on my laptop, and Vista wouldn't even let it set up. Vista said something like, This processor cannot handle this program. That really confirmed for me that Waterfox is definitely "hand-tailored" for 64 bit OS's.Cons
None that I can think of (yet :)).
Summary
Pretty much the all around best browser I've used in the past two to three years. Only Wyzo and Flock are as fast, but Wyzo stinks with (at least my) Windows 7 64-bit (although Wyzo works wonders on my Vista 32-bit), and Flock is no longer updated, etc. Flock works, but it's a number of years old. Kind of a ghost town, in a sense, because its actual own Website is down--all of Flock's offered links lead nowhere. But it's fast--the fastest, in fact. No add-ons in this ghost town, though. They all packed up and left town, like a flock of....
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