This blog is primarily concerned with NIS 2007 (and a bit on NIS 08). I have nothing to say about more recent versions.

This blog is more or less dormant (except for occasional comments on related news), and is being left on-line as a historical record and perhaps as a warning to future generations of anti-virus coders.

2009-07-18

Important news... ...BORING IS GOOD...

Nothing has happened.

AVG (the free version) is just working along perfectly fine.


It's working fine on the old XP desktop.

It's working fine on the new Vista desktop.

And it's working fine on the Vista laptop.


Having Norton Internet Security (2007 and 2008) was like living in a war zone. Having AVG (current free version) installed is, in comparison, like a warm tropical beach with a cool drink.


PS: While typing this post, I just updated AVG. Including some sort of program update. It was totally transparent and I note with some amusement that I'm not rebooting right now.

5 comments:

JustinTM said...

Greetings,

Just wanted to let you know, that if you wanted to try NIS09, you can upgrade your previous product to the latest version for free at www.symantec.com/07upgrade. Let me know what you think. The install is quick, and is pretty painless. It uses micro updates so it doesn't lock your computer down with over cpu utilization.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, but...

It's not that Symantec is being particularly generous with this offer. It is simply that they have moved from 'selling' their software to a more explicitly-obvious subscription-based model.

Please comment again with exactly what extras are being offered to NIS07 and NIS08 folks above what any new customer is being offered?

Now is Symantec's big chance to make amends. I hope that they don't blow it.

How many hundred hours have I wasted?

JustinTM said...

Depending on the product you have installed the free upgrade saves you between 39.99 and 99.99. Whether you view that as being generous or making up for something that may have been lacking is open entirely for interpetation. For everyone the NIS09 product provides improved installation, cleaner interface, idle scanning, integrated antispam, silent mode operation, Behavior blocking, SONAR, scan skipping of trusted and known good files, and a handy performance meter. A lot of work has gone into remaking it into the award winning, and leading AV program it currently is. I was a doubter too, had too many problems with earlier versions, but I vastly prefer the current Norton offering to AVG's.

Anonymous said...

It is laughably obvious that you work in the Marketing arm of Symantec. But that's not really an issue for me. I have known that Symantec was following this blog based on their reaction to my observations. So your visit is not unexpected.

This blog was started in order to highlight the fiasco that was NIS07 and NIS08. It' not going to become a free marketing platform for Symantec

So - here's the deal. You lay out the exact offer available to the long-suffering folks that paid for the misery that was imposed upon them, or I delete all traces of your comments.

The details need to be they can get Product X for a cost of Y (not "savings"). I'll check this against the actual street price and it had better be a huge discount.

I'll give you a couple days to consult with your bosses.

JustinTM said...

I am not in anyway trying to hide who I am. I am not though part of the marketing arm, but am part of the services division examining social media impressions of Norton products. I stumbled on your blog completely independent of any corporate agenda centered on your blog specifically. If you are willing to take the time to check out the new product I can see what I can do about extending your previous subscription.
I have no actual power here, and am not even an official employee of symantec. Just thought that I would take the time to express to you that the latest symantec product has made some vast improvements over previous generations. I would happily delete my own comments here and continue this conversation in private if you would prefer that venue. I will push your comments up to someone else though, who knows something might come of it.