B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| The AVG Free Nag Works
A Model of Fairness Compared to ZL and Real and Adobe... |
My purposeful procrastination in delaying the inevitable (upgrading from the sleek AVG 6 Free to the more bloated AVG 7 Free) has paid off as intended -- I now can determine what other "hands-off" AVG users will see. Until now, AVG has been rare if not unique in that it has been able to function and automatically update for years at a time with ZERO user input, effort, or expense. Until now of course.
After my latest AVG update, AVG advised that it would need a reboot to complete. (I don't even remember this happening with any previous updates.)
And now upon reboot, we're presented with the fair and reasonable nag screen above, advising the required upgrade.
I have to say they've handled this well. I don't particularly look forward to AVG 7 running on this old box though.
This last update was rather large. It's really too bad they didn't just force the AVG 7 upgrade while they were at it. Ah well, time to pull my head out of the horse's mouth. 
Just FYI, for any other folks who have installed AVG Free for clueless friends and relatives.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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dp
Go Steelers
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Greensburg, PA
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| lol, looks familar. I first saw that after they updated to Program 816. »AVG 6 Program Update 816 and I can tell you first hand it will nag you every 5 days
This is the reg key that it put in. I made a note of it in case it doesn't get cleaned out after I put v7 on this machine.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\GRISOFT(c) SOFTWARE\Notify
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Write your questions down on the back of a $20 dollar bill and send them to me |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
1 edit | reply to B
Funny, with avast you just have to get a free licenese which lasts 14 month, and you can renew it when you need to, while the software auto-updates itself, not forcing the user to download the update. Avast is more professional... |
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starreem
Premium
join:2000-12-22
Raleigh, NC
clubs:
| reply to B
Last December (Nov maybe?) I installed the new free version on top of ver 6 on two old pokey Win98 laptops at home, with no problems whatsoever. I do recall at least one occasion since the upgrade that I have had to re-boot.
I have also bought the network version for the office, and there have been several program updates that have required a re-boot.
All in all, the upgrade to ver 7 of the free edition has been a breeze for me.
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From the Depths of Lurk |
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atangel
Now What??
Premium
join:2002-02-18
Bronx, NY
| reply to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus  :Funny, with avast you just have to get a free licenese which lasts 14 month, and you can renew it when you need to, while the software auto-updates itself, not forcing the user to download the update. Avast is more professional... perhaps, but I think the fact that they are dropping support for the V6 def too is also a motivating factor. Otherwise, the are known for unobtrusive style.
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The reason you think I'm way on the left is 'cause you're so far to the right.
Sygate Personal Firewall
Why I mistrust Zone Labs |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| reply to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus :Funny, with avast you just have to get a free licenese which lasts 14 month, and you can renew it when you need to, while the software auto-updates itself, not forcing the user to download the update. Avast is more professional... That seems backwards to me... How is it more "professional" to require yearly manual re-licensing of a free product? I think it's more accurately termed "a pain in the ass". I've seen users face an expired Avast, and they had no idea what to do next.
I love that AVG, until now during this one transition, was so unobtrusive for clueless Joe Average users. I wonder how long AVG 7 Free will update without user input.
In any case, I've been trying to give Avast another shot lately, but I still find it slow and bloated. It hijacks CPU cycles and drags machines to a halt (especially after startup) much the same as NAV and McAfee do.
AVG 6, on the other hand, has been a dream (other than the poor updates from the Free server). I haven't worked with AVG 7 directly, but I guess I'll just have to see how it compares. Not looking forward to it.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
 ·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
| Bloated? You only have to install the add-ons you want, and if your too lazy to fill out a form to have a free license sent via e-mail to you a minute later every 14 months, you might consider that a pain in the ass if your really lazy, especially if your too stupid to read the help file.
--
My hourly rates:
$25 per hour.
$35 per hour if you want to watch.
$45 per hour if you want to help.
$75 per hour if you tried to fix it, and failed.
The biggest error is sitting in front of your keyboard. |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| said by BlitzenZeus :Bloated? You only have to install the add-ons you want, and if your too lazy to fill out a form to have a free license sent via e-mail to you a minute later every 14 months, you might consider that a pain in the ass if your really lazy, especially if your too stupid to read the help file. BZ, come on, read your own signature. For the average nontechnical user, the process you describe is a HUGE hurdle compared to the nearly nonexistent effort required to maintain an AVG installation (until now).
Laziness and stupidity have nothing to do with it, and I'll choose to ignore your unnecessary language in that regard.
Keep in mind that many of those zombies spreading worms and spam have ancient copies of NAV that the users haven't been inclined to update. Some probably have license-lapsed copies of Avast too. A product that updates itself, hands-off and nearly perpetually, is invaluable in an effort to secure the great unwashed.
One product (AVG) has simply been far, far easier to maintain than the other.
Also, contrary to your assertion, I found one had to specifically DISABLE Avast's unneeded real-time monitors, not "install the add-ons you want", but perhaps there's a custom install option, again a non-intutive process for a newbie. I won't even get started on the interface -- it's horrible, and I couldn't stand to use it until I found one of the "corporate" skins.
Believe me, I keep wanting to like Avast as a more feature-full alternative to AVG, but the bloat, the system drain, and the overall design leave me cold. By comparison, the yearly re-licensing requirement is only a relatively minor annoyance.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
1 edit | said by B : I won't even get started on the interface -- it's horrible, and I couldn't stand to use it until I found one of the "corporate" skins. Believe me, I keep wanting to like Avast as a more feature-full alternative to AVG, but the bloat, the system drain, and the overall design leave me cold. By comparison, the yearly re-licensing requirement is only a relatively minor annoyance. -- B Well said, I concur. Plus you should be able to remove it with the add/remove option. Didn't work and tore my system apart trying to remove it manually. It's a joke that you have to use their specific uninstall directions.
»www.avast.com/eng/avast_uninstall_util.html |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
·Verizon FIOS
·Verizon Online DSL
1 edit | reply to B
You keep talking about bloat, the only real bloat I've seen is it can be skinned for the manual scanner, other than that, each service has its own applications which run independent from each other. If people like yourself are not looking at the screen which you can check/uncheck the options you want, instead using the default installation, it will you the features which are used by most users.
I only run a 1.2ghz system, and it doesn't cause much if any noticeable slowdown on my system, I also have custom settings based on the high scanning settings. I have the standard shield(resident scanning), and the internet mail components installed only. As far as resources go, unless your already trying to run an operating system on a minimal amount of memory, its not an issue, and as said before, its all dependent on the components you want to be installed.
I've seen both programs first hand, and Avast is set and forget for 14 months at a time for the most part. You just have to set it up how you want when you first install it.... Avast also updates itself from the system account so you don't have to worry about being an administrator to update the defs, or update the program itself. Its what I've been putting on friends, and families computers who are too lazy to be bothered to learn how to do it themselves. Going to the website, and requesting a new license is far from a pain....
Also yes, people can be too lazy, and stupid/ignorant to help themselves. Sometimes you need to just let them fall flat on their face to realize that they need to get with the game, or just drop it completely as they don't want to even bother learning how to do things correctly.
--
My hourly rates:
$25 per hour.
$35 per hour if you want to watch.
$45 per hour if you want to help.
$75 per hour if you tried to fix it, and failed.
The biggest error is sitting in front of your keyboard. |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| reply to Spy
Won't uninstall, sometimes? They had to write and provide a specific uninstall utility?
Ah, the long, slow, inevitable slide towards Nortondom. (For the unaware, there are approximately 573 distinct version-specific uninstallation tools provided by Symantec for those attempting to uninstall NAV products.)
The bloat, the flash, the system ownage, it all makes sense now!
Seriously, I do very much appreciate Avast's amazingly generous contribution to global virus prevention. I just wish the product were a bit slimmer.
-- B
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In a realm outside causality and function |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR
1 edit | reply to Spy
Notice it said sometimes, I've never come across a problem with the uninstall on the few times I've had to uninstall it on a few systems. |
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t757
Universal
Premium
join:2000-12-28
| reply to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus :you might consider that a pain in the ass if your really lazy, especially if your too stupid to read the help file. Ouch.
I realized that AVG handled the update to version 7 extremely well when the e-mails my mom sends me started having the Scanned by AVG 7 tag at the bottom of them, and I didn't even get a phone call from her asking for help with her virus scanner.
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Apathetic |
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mers2
Premium,MVM
join:2004-03-20
USA
clubs:
·AT&T U-Verse
| reply to B
I hope this doesn't turn into an AVG vs. Avast thread. Each person has their own preferences. I happen to prefer Avast and am amazed when people state it bogs their system down when I don't notice any lag in performance on my box and it's an older system. I do know people who prefer AVG and I'm happy they've got AV protection. I'm grateful to both Avast and AVG for continuing to provide a free AV program. I'm glad to see AVG nagging it's users to death before the cut off of support. I was semi worried about some of the lazier users I know.
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"Think for yourself and let others enjoy the privilege of doing so too." - Voltaire |
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Spy
Premium
join:2001-09-22
NE
| reply to BlitzenZeus
said by BlitzenZeus :Notice it said sometimes, I've never come across a problem with the uninstall on the few times I've had to uninstall it on a few systems. It said sometimes, but I only installed it once and it wouldn't uninstall. I ran it for about an hour or so and immediately disliked it. I'm glad it works well for you but I would never use it again. Never. |
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