ARRGGHHH!!!! Why does this computer's hard drive run all the time?!?!

[Timothy]

Concur on Norton!  not good.  AVG is another free and excellent anti-virus program.

http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

What am I missing here?  I downloaded the "free" version which scanned the system, found 48 virus' and then asked for $40.00 to remove them.  The free version just identified the problem but didn't offer any solution.

I ain't knocking it, just curious....McAfee cost me 80 bucks a year for my network and it blows so money ain't the issue.

[twyacht]

majorgeeks.com

 down the left hand column, AVG free edition is there. However, if you have another antivirus/spyware program getting AVG can conflict and set one against the other.

I use Avira, with Ad-Aware, (agree Norton is no longer the service it used to be)....

For 29.99 on my desk top, I have Black Ice ....very good as well.

My laptop hold up with Avira anti virus, malware/spyware,...etc,...

check the site above, keep it simple.

Oh, BTW, Bill Gates is the devil....

[Timothy]

The problem is trying to get rid of Norton or McAfee in it's entirety.  Like AOL, it's nearly impossible to remove it all.

[brosometal]

Now I know this is gonna tick some folks off...

I have my Mom's old computer: A Gateway from '02 or '03.  All I've done is replace the hard drive and added some RAM and only use it for a glorified word processor and the interwebs.  I don't use any Internet explorer.  I use either:

firefox:  http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/upgrade.html

or

Opera:  http://www.opera.com/

I also use the Mozilla Thunderbird for email.  And, as a Cox subscriber, I am provided a McAfee suite as part of the whole hi speed deal.  I have never had a problem (knocking on wood).  As I type this, I am reminded of a certain .22LR Sig that has gone the same way.  I may lead a charmed life.

Tyler, another option depending on how you use your computer and how easy it is to jump through the prescribed hoops, you could switch to a LINUX based OS and it's free to boot:  Ubuntu http://www.ubuntu.com/  Its supposed to be a lot more stable.  It is definitely worth a look-see.

[philw]

the other option is just get a Mac

no issues then    

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

the other option is just get a Mac

no issues then    

What difference would that make for the average casual user like me ?

[philw]

What difference would that make for the average casual user like me ?

firstly you don't need all  that security crap    there are only a couple of virus  and to get them you need to be either watching porn or downloading illegal software 


a lot easier to use   and programs like iPhoto  make managing your images soo much easier same for emailing pics   just a couple of clicks and you can email picks and have them re-sized for email  ( or upload to facebook )


if there are "Winblows" apps you need to run you can still do that by installing parallels on the mac and then windows   to run them



there are soo many more things I could say  but the best one is The Shooting Gallery  TBD and TBD-S  Cowboys + anything else  they make here is ALL done on Macs    

[tombogan03884]

Thanks Phil ?

[Texas_Bryan]

Some of us do more than slide shows Phil.   Mac are overprice, jive as Hell, and practically useless.  The only time I've needed one was to port something to an iPhone from a game engine, the engine was built for Mac, ported to PC, and even its creators have admitted that they made a mistake building it first for Mac.  But you boys do make some fancy mp3 players, I give them that.   And the web devs across the way love them.  No body ever accused them of being all that smart though...

We need a thread called 'Nerd Fight' where we can argue all our petty nonsensicals.

[sledgemeister]

Some of us do more than slide shows Phil.   Mac are overprice, jive as Hell, and practically useless.  The only time I've needed one was to port something to an iPhone from a game engine, the engine was built for Mac, ported to PC, and even its creators have admitted that they made a mistake building it first for Mac.  But you boys do make some fancy mp3 players, I give them that.   And the web devs across the way love them.  No body ever accused them of being all that smart though...

We need a thread called 'Nerd Fight' where we can argue all our petty nonsensicals.

hehehe TB 1 - Phil 0 

Arent macs those things poms wear to keep their soap from getting wet?