Quirky, but eventually finds it's happy place.
Written: Oct 09 '07 (Updated Dec 26 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Three licenses included. Strong performance and protection.
Cons: Initially intrusive, non-responsive, and a system hog.
The Bottom Line: You could do better than this package. Has improved with age, but others were right from day 1.
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| cruz3's Full Review: Symantec Norton 360 All-In-One Security Annual Sub... |
[See the update below - this is a two part review.]
I was very pleased to see Norton take a step forward and offer a 3 PC license for the new Norton 360 product. Circuit City offered a $40 introductory pricing which was in the same ballpark as my Systemworks upgrade/subscription. In short, I think this may be the worst software I have ever voluntarily installed on my machine.
As I write this, I am uninstalling the software from my machine, but have every expectation that I will be surfing through my registry for quite some time - across all 3 pcs - trying to remove all the traces that 360 will leave behind.
What is so bad about 360? Here are the big hitters:
1. It's intrusive - like a colonoscopy (possibly worse). Every time you browse a webpage, it shows up. Every time you log on it shows up. Every time it thinks you need to back up - despite being told otherwise - it shows up. Anyone who was awake during their colonoscopy will understand the true meaning of 'intrusive'. At least that was over comparatively quick.
2. It is a system hog. My 2.4P4 laptop was brought to its knees thanks to 360. Ran just fine before. My newer Core 2/2GB RAM desktop actually slowed just a little bit.
3. The settings appear to have no real influence over the actual application. Change something - get the same message. Change it again - get the same message. Backup is a big culprit on this complaint. The backup message must show up at least 3 times an evening, no matter what the settings are. This is not an exaggeration.
4. 360 Protection? Couldn't really say. My perception is that software that is this buggy and painful to operate probably has about as much security as our northern and southern borders. Haven't noticed any virus activity, but that's probably the one thing that Norton WON'T share with you.
5. Live update, or not. The stream of endless error messages - on a clean install and on historical installs - is maddening. The old stuff used to pick up and go with very little hassle. I think I had one crash that required some manual remove/re-install on two machines, which tells me there was a bad patch floating around. I could live with that.
6. User friendly? Maybe I'm too accustomed to making adjustments on my own behalf. Norton is very good about telling me how bad things are, without even understanding what else may be going on. Windows firewall vs. Linksys router? I think I'll take my chances on the router. Norton 360 says no! Please, let me put a yellow circle with a red X on it and keep it there until you do things my way.
Good anti-virus/system software will keep to itself - almost invisibly - until it needs to get your attention. Previous Norton products were great in this respect. My McAfee on my work computer does it's job stoically - no thanks necessary, just click when you have a problem. Norton 360 is like a road trip companion that never shuts up, gives bad directions, messes with the heat & a/c,and never helps with the driving.
12/2007 UPDATE: I went through the painstaking process of uninstalling, then reinstalling the software. The downloadable version was installed originally then extended with the license code from a retail package. I re-installed the package with the CD and surprisingly, the performance was much better. It nags for weeks like an itch you can't scratch, but has quieted down a lot. No virus problems. It isn't the system hog that I was experiencing earlier. In short, I'm starting to like it but was very concerned in the beginning. If you read this review, DO NOT INSTALL FROM THE DOWNLOADABLE TRIAL VERSION.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
cruz3
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Location: Pasco, WA, USA
Reviews written: 29
Trusted by: 1 member
About Me:
Mechanical engineer who loves his family and toys.
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