AV subscription VS buying new

OK I know some of you are far more tech savvy then I am so I ask this question with 30 days to go before my renewal:

I have Norton AV
- The original purchase was in 2005 labeled as 2006
- I have purchased the renewal subscriptions for the last two years, and have gotten the email that is reminding me that it is time to renew again.

My question: Is it better to keep resubscribing and getting downloads for my 2005 edition or would it be better to just buy a 2008 package and start all over?

Do you think the 2005 with subscriptions for the definitions is as effective as a new version?


Now posted on another forum, I also get - ditch Norton and go with AVG - problem is AVG let me down twice, and the last time I could not recover and had to replace the HD.... AVG free or pay is out of the conversation for me.

Others say go here:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

It's a non affiliated test site so the reviews are genuine. Then I'm refered to Kaspersky or ESET's NOD that they are the 2 best products on the market, ,but don;t forget to look at Avast also....

Confusion sets in.
I need virus protection because this is my work PC, and to be with out is suicide because of the files I get from customers.... but if Norton's is bloat ware, and XYZ company is better, I'd like to look in to them before I re-subscribe or purchase a new edition of Nortons.


Thanks.


Duck

Hey Duck!

Well here is my opinion. Norton used to do a great job, as did Mcafee, then they both started getting bloated. Then at least for Mcafee, and I think Norton too they started requiring you to install software to run their bloated software on, software that has it's own security issues. I dropped Mcafee when they started to require you to run Active X and .Net. Since then I have been VERY happy with Avast!. The Home edition is free, at my office I have purchased licenses for every machine. I recently tried AVG and liked it too. I guess my point is that those two are free and do a great job. I would stick with them.


As for whether to pay subscription or buy new. I always used to buy Mcafee each year, then finally as they got more bloated each year I just paid for subscriptions then finally I dropped them. I would say the one you are running does as good a job, it's searching for the same thing. The new "features" probably don't do much beyond lag your computer. I would stick with the subscription.

Of course this is all my opinion, but as you know I am nearly always right 😀

Thanks Bubba.
I posed the question to Norton - and in there version of Engrish they reply as follows:

Response (Arun.kumar) - 12/12/2007 01:44 AM Hello,

Thanks you for contacting Symantec Customer Service. I appreciate the opportunity to assist you.

I understand from your email that you wish to gather informations about the upgradings of the Norton program.

Please be assured that I will strive providing you with the best assistance in resolving this issue at the earliest.

Please note that earlier versions are not sufficient to keeping you system protected from the advanced threats prevailing in the current date scenario. We release a new and enhanced version of the product every year to stay on top of these threats and our latest release is the 2008 version.

For higher level of security and support, and to remain in the forefront of Symantec Customer Relations, we recommend that you upgrade to our latest products for a special reduced upgrade price.

Symantec offers any new Norton product at a reduced upgrade price for its prior customers. To view your upgrade purchase options, please visit the Symantec Store Upgrade Center online at:

That being said, I'm looking in to other providers. I too think Nortons is now bloat ware and geared towards non-PC literate users.
Down to two decisions Avast or NOD.

The latest version of Kaspersky is set to a One Hour - every hour - check for definitions which can not be turned off unless you shut off the software..... that's too much for me.

I use the free version of Avast! at home and have had no problems with it and doesn't hog resources. The one drawback is that the free version does not seem to auto update and I have to remember to do that manually.

The pro version of Avast! gets updated daily with virus definitions and I would say once every couple of months with general program updates. That alone is worth the subscription cost.