For many reason, i think Avast 4.8 still better than Avast 5. Yes, avast 5 has a good & new feature, no doubt about it! But in my experience, avast 4.8 more useful to solve the virus problem than avast 5.
It is just my opinion and experience, what about the other people??
I find that avast 5 loads faster and scans faster for me on my computer. And It protects you more with the feature on it called the Shields.
Plus its easier to use. i have avast! free version if you want to see what the interface of avast 5 looks like see picture below 
Yes, avast 5 is very light and easy to use than avast 4.8. But i have found many times that avast 5 can’t to install in infected system to clean the system, but i can do that with avast 4.8. Avast 5 also highly dependent on the condition of windows system. If windows system are good, then avast works fine. too I often find that avast to be not functioning well when the windows have a slight problem, especially on a network problem.
I’ve just posted something relevant here :
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=63377.msg559468#msg559468
The only other comment I would make is that when I install avast 4.8, I always opt to NOT install the ‘skins’. The user interface is much better that way!
Joe.
Well - it could be something I am doing but I found that even though Avast! says that Win 2K Pro is supported (using Avast! 5.0 Internet Security version) - alas - it is not.
I can install it on my system but it disables my LAN connection. Again - perhaps a cockpit error on my part perhaps. To get things back up and running - I have elected to go back to Avast! 4.8 on my Win 2K Pro machine.
As far as my Win XP computer (another machine entirely) - Avast! 5.0 installed OK and I don’t yet have any issues.
I am a somewhat skilled user - but not a computer pro. More like a ‘hacker’ who puts his systems together for a hobby.
Cheers
Don
Hi Don,
avast! Free (actual version) is working on my Win 2k Pro machine very well.
I use it since a few months an I never had special problems with it.
There were a few bugs in the past/at the beginning of version 5, but the avast!-Team did a great job and repaired all these bugs in a very short time.
And I asked the avast!-Team with E-Mail, if the following version 6 will support Win 2k, too.
They answered very fast, that version 6 will support Win 2k, too.
Because of this points, I don’t think, that your problem is avast!.
In my opinion anything else is wrong…
I have never used Avast! 4.8. I was a user of BitDefender, Norton, and McAfee. Will never go back to these. Two in particular. I really like the simplicity of AIS 5.0. User interface is top notch. Uncluttered! Had some problems in the beginning that were very irritating but that seems to have worked itself out. I would like to see some higher quality reporting though. Avast! continues and continues to improve. You are speaking of upgrading from 4.8 to 5.0 but I am looking forward to upgrading from 5.0 to 5.1 and 6.0.
I wouldnt used Avast 4.8. I installed it once and I hated the MP3 player look for an antivirus program. I’m glad they changed it to look like a real application now. As far as Avast 5.0, I bought a 2 year license but wont use it because it doesnt clean cookies (I dont need to hear that cookies arent a threat). Currently using Norton IS 2011. I do plan to try 5.1 when it comes out to see if the added changes make it worth using. Other than that I like avast 5.0’s interface and it’s light on the system, scans are relatively fast. I dont like the Avast 5.0 desktop Icon, it looks like I was visited by a bird.
is norton can clean cookies in 64-bit system? i don’t believe it. i never noticed that??? because my friend laptop core i3 win7-64 bit has norton 2011 and all day updating so we cannot test if it is can remove 64-bit tracking cookies ;D
Norton can and does clean cookies on Windows 7/Vista 64bit using a 32bit browser. I dont know if it does with Internet Explorer 64bit, I dont use it. I mostly use Firefox,
will is your web browser can still surf faster as you remove this cookies???
: im thinking that cookies in 32-bit is stored in C:/Document and setting/user name/cookies and it is load to browser only if you going to log-in. but in 64-bit this folder cannot be physically access you need some process.
and 64-bit cookies is intact in the browser itself 
so if you going to remove it by using some process can cause surf slowdown
By the way we can manually remove cookies in the browser itself if we are 64-bit user
if you are FF user you can access it here
Tools>Option>privacy>removed individual cookies. there you can choose the cookies to be deleted
if you are IE user you can access it here
Tools>developer tools>cache there you can clear session cookies or cookies for domain.
question: why do you need to be worried about cookies in 64-bit system if this system do not stored cookies in windows folder or function???
can you give me the correct answer?
Best Regards!!!
The point of my post is that the ability of avast 4.8 to clean the virus is better than avast 5. I hope in 5.1 and 6.0 avast not ‘weak’ like the version 5.
personal experience??? possibly in the naked eyes but technically not 
Reason → 4.8 sniff virus only after the virus is infect the system so instead you have only one alert become 2 the system file and the executable file. that make the user think the attack is multiple
5.0 only 1 alert “block” so it means it does not infect your system. it is block before the process is done
so now i have my technical reason about those differences
now show us your reason why you can say that 4.8 is better than 5.0 technically 
Regards!!!
4.8 - Ads on the program is terrible to see compared to 5.0. which is perfectly fit on it.
5.0 - Mores protections, better detection, better cleaning for somes heavies viruses, scan speed, low ram, clean interface, help center for beginners, etc.
Web - New forum design. More professional.
Mr.Agent
I’ve gotta say, I really like Avast 5 ;D
The GUI is much improved, the defacto voice is better (seems more volume appropriate too), and both Avast versions seem to offer great protection, perhaps 5 is a little better? I mainly care about avast’s resident scanner, its stopped countless malware attacks for me, so I’m a happy camper.
I was hesitant to update to 5, since 4.8 was so great, but I finally did, and now have it on all of my PCs, and like it.
Great…!
Thanks for your feedback…!
asyn
In my experience using avast 5, my windows 7 ultimate (32bit) machine infected with same virus twice. Avast 5 did not block the virus. Avast can detect the virus after i run a mannual scan. I already submit the virus sample before but after in a few month my system is infected again with the same virus. Avast can detect the virus when i do the mannual scan, but why did not block it before the virus infecting my system?? Second, avast 5 service (real time scan)often can running if we install on infected system. In the past, i fully trusted with avast in my job to remove the virus from the infected system. If computer infected by the virus (even sality, virut, vitro, etc), i can install avast 4.8 and do the mannual scan or boot time scan, and avast almost can remove the virus and all infected file. Despite the consequences, sometimes the windows system also removed and windows were damaged. But, if i try to solve the infected system using avast 5, avast 5 can to install but the service (real time) even avast gui can’t running. I think it some of weakness. Three, when i do a scan over the network, often avast not detect any virus on the remote/other computer. But avast 4.8 can detect it.
If computer infected by the virus like sality, virut, vitro, etc, i can install avast 4.8 and do the mannual scan or boot time scan, and avast almost can remove the virus and all infected file. Despite the consequences, sometimes the windows system also removed and windows were damaged. But, if i try to solve the infected system using avast 5, avast 5 can to install but the service (real time) even avast gui can’t running. I think it some of weakness. Three, when i do a scan over the network, often avast not detect any virus on the remote/other computer. But avast 4.8 can detect it.
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prevention is better than cure
there are some virus that is metamorphic, it can be identify only if infect your system. in avast 5 this virus do not have a change to infect the system because of file system shield this feature maintain the stability of every file that your system is executed. and do you think that virus definition of 4.8 is not present in 5.0??
will that is your observation
the only fault you did is, you did removed 5.0 and yes metamorphic virus take an action because file system shield is removed infect your system hide it in your system driver then you installed 4.8 and remove infected files and system files. your system become unstable and now you told us that 5.0 is weak.
man think that 5.0 offer you the best protection why do downgrade??? maybe to get an alert that your system is infected??
i use avast from 4.5 until now 5.0 and all that version i experience and see the changes in every upgrade.
Regards!!!
Why you can conclude like that? I never said so. I think all those who have been using avast definitely know avast 4.8 virus definitions are the same as the one on avast 5 (for now). The diffrent is on their engine. Instead you should conclude that there might be something better on the engine of avast 4.8, so it can detect it with the same virus definitions while avast 5 is not?
Why you can conclude like that again? I never said so. I never uninstall avast 5 from my own pc. Please read my post carefully (sorry for my bad english). The case that avast didn’t block the virus and avast 5 services can’t running are in a diffrent computer and diffrent case.
Yes, you are right. But people who are sick must be healed first, and then taught to make of prevention from disease. And also if we help other people if their computer infected by virus.
I also have been using avast since from version 4.5. But now in avast 5 I get a lack which I think is not good and it’s some of setback. Indeed avast 5 has a much improved, but also there is some reduction, based on the things that I mentioned earlier. Please do not consider this posting as an attack on avast antivirus. I just write based on the fact that I got for use avast 5 from the earlier version until now. In fact I also the users of avast.
Thanks!
Ok, but the antivirus from my local country can block this virus (same virus that infect my windows 7 machine). Avast 5 just detect it if i do a manual scan, but didn’t block the virus from infecting the windows. Then, i think that is the function of anti rootkit for handle the metamorphic virus.