PC Tools AV - an opinion please!

[dantheman]

Hi,

It's a boring thread, i know...

I've been using AVG AV Network Ed. but find it to be a resource hog on poor ol' XPSP2 with 1.2G of RAM, especially with their version 8 - Anyone willing to recommend their free version as an alternative?

Would appreciate an honest opinion on PC Tools free version too!
http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/?utm_source=majorgeeks&utm_medium=text&utm_content=title&utm_campaign=freeav

[Lashiec]

I'm willing to recommend it as an alternative, but it should be noted that AVG Free will be upgraded to version 8 in the future, so it may end up as another hog, a leaner one, but a hog. Also, recent versions of AVG had been using the same method as AntiVir to promote the paid versions, with a popup that appears after updates (this one tries to mimic Vista looks), so take that into consideration.

I'm curious, why the Network Edition?

[dantheman]

Lashiec,

Glad you dropped by with that input!
Why the Network Edition you ask?
Well, i belong to a small group and only have access through the network.
That's the edition they've subscribed us to but i did finally install the PC Tools AV and it seems to be doing quite well. Very little resource consumption (only see two "programs" running when CTRL + ALT + DEL).
AVG had four (if not five)!
Besides, not that i want to complain, but my last support request to AVG was a hassle.
Why bother paying if you can't get the support they promise?
I know, it may have simply been my turn just like anyone who buys a computer these days.
It can be the best and still turn out to be a lemon.

[dantheman]

There is a minor issue with PC Tools.
If you have more than one user on XP Home you must shut off on one before loging into another. 

[Lashiec]

Well, AVG 8 Free is out, with antivirus, antispyware and LinkScanner integrated. The package is almost 50 MB, so at least in that department is everything but light. Then again, AVG packages are known for being very big.