Upgrade Hell
Accessing the web without virus protection is like unprotected sex with a complete stranger. You might be OK but then again, you might catch something very nasty. So all of the computer in the house have a copy of Norton AntiVirus installed. It’s not the best; it’s not the worst. It’s just what we use. Unfortunately, the subscription for virus signatures is about to run out. For about the past month or so, it’s been acting like an unregistered shareware application, prompting me to update my subscription. If it wasn’t so expensive to buy another year of virus signatures online ($24.95), I would have done that instead of purchasing the most recent version of the product in the store ($9.99 after rebates).
On the way home from The Girls soccer game, I stopped by my local big box consumer electronics store and picked up a copy of Norton AntiVirus 2005. It’ a big pain to perform a complete uninstall. I had to reboot five times. I know that technically I don’t have to completely uninstall the old version before installing the new one but as many who use of Norton AntiVirus will tell you, it’s a pay me now/pay me later sort of a thing. And I had to reboot three more times during the install. It’s all done now; but I would have rather watched some NFL football versus spending what little unscheduled time I had on a Sunday doing software upgrades.
Comments
Comment from Ed
Time September 26, 2005 at 7:04 pm
Yeah, I’m getting those nagging screens from Norton Anti-Virus too at the moment on all of our computers. I’ve found in the past that the cheapest way for me to buy it is to log on to the US site and buy it at the US price in $. Software is much cheaper in the US than it is over here. But I think they’ve closed that option now and I have to buy the British version. Oh well.
Comment from Midwestern City Boy
Time September 27, 2005 at 1:29 am
Chickie: I had not thought of it that way but I am going to remember it now.
Ed: Major pain. Especially since all of our computer expire at the same time. It should be a cheap and painless upgrade since virus protection is so important. I don’t mind waiting 2 months to get my rebate checks but I many people will live “fast and dangerous” until thy get burned.
Kelly: You said it.
Comment from renee
Time September 27, 2005 at 10:22 am
get a mac, they don’t make viruses for computers that are only 8% of the market. 
Comment from Femi-Mommy
Time September 27, 2005 at 7:32 pm
get AVG by grisoft - it’s free still i believe and so far i have found it to kick major ass. I am thumbing my nose at norton since it failed one day and let it a super freakin huge virus that killed my whole system. every little ani mp3 and rerun of arrested development gone. it was a sad sad day. good luck - and yeah, i agree - get a mac
Comment from Midwestern City Boy
Time September 27, 2005 at 11:00 pm
Renee: For good or for evil (and it’s a little bit of both) we are Windows PC users. With three Windows XP boxes computers plus several others “partial” boxes, it would be an expensive changeover.
Femi-Mommy: So far, I have been lucky. Reliable protection is a major issue, particularly with two teenagers on line. I have auditioned other packages but haven’t made the switch. We get virally infected emails every day so we have to have something. Unfortunately, everyone is always in a rush for me to get things set up and configured so they can use the computer. So, I’ve elected to stay on the upgrade path and cause a little disruption to everyone else. But it’s a big PIA every twelve months.
Comment from Chickie
Time September 26, 2005 at 3:16 am
But don’t you feel so much better now that you have your internet condom on?