I use AIS which has a built in firewall. I am asking for those who use the “free” version and want something simple. Which free firewall is basically set it and forget it? IOW extremely easy to set-up and use. A free firewall that is pretty much idiot proof. Not that avast users are idiots which is not the case. Avast users are really quite smart. But a good firewall that is user friendly. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 
In my personal opinion:
I have also used Private Firewall and the Windows Firewall with Vista and have been happy with them. If you want more from the Vista Firewall, you can use the advanced settings option, but generally unnecessary.
In my opinion there is no need of third party firewalls…
The windows firewall in vista and Win 7, are more advanced than xp…
If you configure the firewall well, windows firewall is way superior than others…
My personal suggestion is Outpost free
Its very very and very easy and install it do the settings and forget it
It will do the rest
Windows Firewall in Windows 7 is the lightest and the best of all if you’re able to set a tight custom rule in it. Though I must admit it’s a bit daunting task to do for most normal PC user.
For set and forget type in Vista or 7:
- Privatefirewall
- Comodo (firewall component only, no D+)
I prefer Online Armor, Outpost, if you have Win7/Vista then the Windows firewall.
A lot depends on the user, if they want “feedback” (example programs allowed to access the Internet, ports open, etc.), ability to have beginner and advanced settings, but otherwise set it and forget it nice – I’m not referring to pop-up’s when I say “feedback.”
+1, both have superior protection with ease of use ( set and forget)
It always amazes me to see how many people enjoy adding things to their system
when what they want to accomplish is already built into the system.
In Windows 7, the firewall and defrag are just 2 examples.
If they have the features you’re looking for… Both firewall and defrag Windows are very limited on features. The configurability of the firewall, the boot time defragmentation, etc. etc.
Well for outbound protection the windows firewall is to awkward to bother with and i find my browsing speed is improved and more secure with outpost, the windows defragmenter is absolute rubbish imo, a scan with defraggler straight after the windows defrag showed an additional 17% defragmentation and another plus is the defrag time is only a third of what windows defrag is and defraggler also has boot time defrag.
Im amazed that people with windows 7 think that because they have the latest operating system it has the best built in features (rubbish)some good features yes but alot of them are far to be desired and there are several programs out there that i know of that vastly improve on on some of the windows 7 programs.
Which I might say stems around the problem of anti-competition laws (whatever it is called in the USA), if MS provided a full features application that came bundled in the OS, then all hell beaks loose.
So they have features that are adequate for the task, but not anti-competitive and for many people that is enough. For the more savvy or discerning amongst us that isn’t enough so we use other applications that are more user friendly, configurable, etc.
David you hit the nail on the head 
Sometime folks want mo’ better running on their systems!
and alot of people dont trust Microsoft wares
and alot of people dont trust Microsoft waresSo I guess you're running either Linux or you own an apple computer ??? ;D If you're OS is Windows, your remark doesn't make any sense.
I run Microsoft Windows XP Home and IE8
and yes I dont trust Microsoft…havn’t for years
thats why I layer my self with other more trusting programs
Windows Vista/7 Defrag is adequate though limited on features, I agree with you on this.
However Windows 7 Firewall isn’t limited as what you’ve said. It’s a pure Firewall which done what it’s design to perfectly in it’s normal configuration. If you configure the firewall with an iron clad rule then you’ll have the best firewall with lightest impact on your system. Not to mention the less chance of possible conflict with your antivirus software than any other third party firewall.
Of course Windows Firewall won’t do you any good if you’re hoping for some bell & whistles like any other third party software with HIPS component in it…
It’s very very limited on configurability. It’s not user friendly and you must build all the outbound protection manually.
Not with the outbound… If you iron it to the maximum you can even lost your connection (like any other firewall). But you need to configure it manually.
Well, with bad programmed software you must say. You won’t expect that Microsoft does not fail and have problems. Other good software does not conflict.
I won’t call configurability just bell & whistles… Also HIPS is not bell & whistles…
What Microsoft should do is iron out the operational system itself…
It sure is not user friendly for most users. Though it’s not limited in configurability, since you can configure it the way you want to.
That’s what I said… iron clad rule. Means you have to configure it to the maximum extent possible, but still letting your system to breath (allowing connection for those you want to be able to connect). ‘lost your connection’ = there’s something wrong with your rule.
You’re right mostly with bad coded software and you’re right that Microsoft applications has it’s own quirks too. That’s why I’m using Avast instead of their antivirus ;D
However, I’ve seen a lot of people either in forums or my friends having troubles by using antivirus combined with other third party firewall (Privatefirewall, Comodo, OA, AO, PCTools, etc). Either it’s just a simple thing like exclusion rules or complicated things like systems file being tampered with, memory problem, etc.
In the end, the so called user friendly transforming into user’s nightmare to deal with… User friendly or not, it still need to be configure and there’s always chance for it to be wrongly configured.
HIPS is bell & whistles in term of speaking, since it’ll popping and asking user question about what to do. It’s good if the user have a knowledge to choose the accurate action, but most normal users didn’t have that kind of experience or knowledge to choose the appropriate action hence rather than fortifying their protection, it actually singed a hole in their system. Compromising their system protection.
You’re right… this could happen, indeed happen.
In these users’ case, the better will let the HIPS application decide by itself.