Note to AVG: We are not all blithering idiots.

Pros: -I have Vista, our other two computers have XP.

-No problems installing AVG 8 on Vista or on the bare-bones XP that I use for work.

-The GUI is much prettier now.

-Old firewall settings from AVG 7 were transfered straight to 8, so there was no messing about with reconfiguring the firewall. (The same does not hold true with the anti-virus program and exceptions, unfortunately.)

-The scans seem snappy.

-It's affordable when you are upgrading - The three-pack is a fabulous deal for a software upgrade. (Obviously, it's not affordable if it doesn't work correctly.)

-Without Web Shield and Link Checker, it seems to run fine. (I haven't tried set up exceptions for scans yet.)

Cons: -AVG tells YOU what you need and want, and if you insist on doing it your way, they will nag you with an error state:

**Lack of customizable options.**

If there is a component that you do not need or want - Like Web Shield, Link Checker, IM, Email, etc. - you have to know that you do not want that component *before* you use the software and decline to install it. That is the only way to keep AVG from showing in the error state at all times if you do not wish to run that component.

-Web Shield and Link Checker are intrusive and annoying. They will slow your computer to a dead crawl. If you are already using Firefox with extensions, it over-rides Firefox leaving at least one great FX extension dead in the water.

-Our XP laptop could not successfully install AVG. Every attempt produced an error message. Ended up with a different anti-virus program until we hear from AVG tech support. *Five* days and counting in our wait for a reply.

-Tech support and customer service. I've used the paid version of AVG for years. I've always been happy with their customer support, even though it's limited to email. It's prompt and they actually read your email and respond. I think they are overwhelmed right now. It took *six days* to get a response from them. I'm patient, but my understanding has limits.

-This has potential to be good software, but it was released too soon. They should have left it in Beta.

Posted: 04-May-2008 10:02:49 AM

Simple and effective

Pros: AWCPro is fast, simple to use, and it does everything I need it to without a hitch. It's also very inexpensive, particularly with licensing for three systems with the trialpay.

Cons: None.

Posted: 05-Apr-2008 05:09:22 PM