Just a quick question… Is Avast better than larger Antivirus providers like Norton and McAfee? :-\
Well depends on what you mean. From resources usage and tech support stand point it’s indeed superior. Can’t argue with that.
yea i was thinking like overall… ;D
:o no one knows?! 
Well, update frequency isn’t exactly the best. Same for response times, though McAfee and Symantec aren’t exactly pearls either. Lack of heuristics for On-Access scanner is also a small drawback. But other than that i really can’t complain and Alwil team is working on nearly all things that users complain about. So eventually they’ll improve even on this area.
Which would you prefer?
Why “would”?
This is an AVAST support forum, ie. people who are here ARE using avast. That is, they have chosen avast. 
From the three products you mentioned I would choose avast!, however there are many more nice products around. Just trial them and see what you like.
@Vlk
Well said, however closing your eyes is never good of course
well, i’m trying to decide if I should get rid of Avast ebcause it seems un-professional and i’m wondering if its better than Norton or McAfee
Exactly what Vlk said. And Alwil Software is among rare few companies that actually listens to users and users have chance to speak directly with programmers and program managers. Not something that you can see or do often in these days. For me this is a very important factor, possible even more important than raw detection rate.
What makes you having this opinion?
Just the way it all looks when i’m running it… It dosn’t look as professional as Norton and McAfee… I recentley got a new computer thats why i’m so interested in finding out which one is the best.
What is your definition of professional? Mine is that I am protected and the programme is relatively easy to use and clear. OK I’m biased Avast is my programme of choice - set and forget
i’ve got avast!pro from having avast!home for a few years and it may not be the best(not one a/v program can find it all)but the support and the feedback and the care of the product makes a different too…I’ve tried Avg home and paid version(free version with candy coating)Norton 2005…very hard to get off computer once it’s on…Panda and a few others…and when i got my new laptop guess what’s on it??but the decision is up to you??? 8) : 
A quick and clear answer from my point of view:
It depends.
For me, the choice is very easy.
I have a three year free subscipton on Norman antivirus delivered with my PC,
but I prefer Avast.
But I assume this forum is not the right place to get an objective answer to your question. That said, this forum is a strength that Avast has. ;D
Not many AV’s, if any, has such a forum.
Good luck in your choice.
HL
Well there any number of different skins you can download and apply if it’s eye candy you are looking for.
Personally I feel avast is one of the most configurable and flexible AV that I have ever used, I haven’t used McAfee though and based on other opinions I wouldn’t. It is also relatively light on resources and isn’t harder than a virus to remove it should you choose to after the 60 day unrestricted trial period, unlike Norton.
I really wish the Avast team would change the default skin. I think the ‘silhouette’ by szcraftec is the nicest I’ve seen (I’m a fan of their website too…)
Pherhaps they could ask for the rights to use it by default? The interface can make the program feel ‘cheap’ and can hide the functionality somewhat. Just a thought 
We’ve been living with more or less the same default skin since December 2002 (when avast 4.0 was released) so I guess we can wait for another X* month for v5 with completely remodelled UI…
*substitute for a number between 6 and 18, depending on many things.
Take care
Vlk
Just what sort of stupid comment is “it does not look professional”?
I have to doubt the credentials of anyone with the userid of b1ack_0ps who, I have to suspect, is not really here looking for genuine advice.
That being said, is this the best antivirus solution you can find? … in all honesty … I doubt it … but they are working on it … they are hungry … and they have others in their sights. (These folks remind me of a little known company I awarded a large corporate contract to - quite a few years ago - because they showed this style … they were a new company called Trend Micro).
Is this the best free antivirus solution? … debateable … but for the price point … few should complain.
Is this the best antivirus support forum? … of that I have absolutely no doubt whatever - not just because of the quality of advice of the users here but because of the clear, active, professional & friendly participation of the avast development team .
Eeeeeee, v5 details are leaking slowly… ;D Can’t wait to get my hands on beta version