“Full Internet protection and the fastest threat detection available—all without slowing down your computer.* No one else offers you this high level of security and convenience.”-Norton Internet Security 2010
What about Avast? Is Norton REALLY that great? I though they where resource hungry! 
Previous versions of Norton were resource hungry. They’ve improved a lot.
But, all more than this is just ad. Or hype 
If you believe all the marketing hype, you are far too trusting. They are after all trying to sell the product.
I would have to take issue with this statement “No one else offers you this high level of security and convenience.” What an absolute load of bull droppings, a bit arrogant if you ask me ‘no one’ is a pretty sweeping statement and one I can’t possibly believe.
The word high level of security and convenience would have many different interpretations and really is a user based interpretation. They know what level of security them want and what is convenient for some is a pain in the rear for someone else.
I tend to go on my own personal experience than info from the marketing department. I have never used Norton and I’m not about to start now, I’m none to enamoured with Symantec either ;D I’m happy with avast and I don’t go looking unless I feel it isn’t meeting my needs. Like I did a little over six and a half years ago when I abandoned AVG.
I’m also not a fan of Suites, I much prefer to select my own security components, AV, firewall, anti-spam, etc. etc. Those that match my needs and are convenient for me and provide a high level of security; I don’t need anyone else to make that choice for me.
Yes, there are many people who prefer the convenience of an Internet Security suite, so they don’t have to go searching for the different components. I’m not one of them and once you have chosen your security components, you only need to look elsewhere if one of those components doesn’t meet your needs.
You can watch a review here.
My family used to use Symantec/Norton and they all got malware. Now since switching to Avast, they don’t have any problems. Also, Symantec charges for telephone support for a paid product. The software still is a hog on the machine compared to other products, and often leaves remnants behind on uninstall. IMO, stay with Avast.
Yup, just tried it, same old, slow, and bloated. Some people say MSE is better than both avast and norton…never tried it.
@ ccookie
MSE is better than no anti virus application!
I hope you got rid of Norton as it is terribly hard to get rid of and leaves a lot of junk on your system much worse than MSE.
Download and run the Norton Removal Tool to uninstall your Norton product
http://www.symantec.com/norton/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20080710133834EN&ln=en_US
I used Norton products for 10 years and never had a single problem and also never got infected with a single piece of malware. As far as the marketing statement goes, everybody claims their product is the best. What do you expect companies to say? “Our product is good but there are others that are just as good or maybe even better?” Norton Internet Security is an excellent product and the only reason I stopped using it was due to financial problems at the time. I also had no problems whatsoever in removing it.
On the free front, MSE is okay but I think Avast! is better and certainly offers more options in configuration and preferred behavior.
If I was going to pay for an A/V it would be Nod32, NOT Norton.
Symantec also outsourced its “help” to people who could not speak English (or thought they could), did not listen to it’s customers, and were not knowledgeable in helping, then charged you for assistance even when they couldn’t fix the problem. I ended up fixing it for free…no more Norton. ;D
You should have gone to their forums. There are many knowledgeable helpful people there and the Symantec staff also visits on a frequent basis.
I did go to the forum for my family, but I had to go to their tech support for the problem which cost $$$! >:(