Norton 2009 products released...

[HAN]

New versions of Norton Antivirus and Norton Internet Security. Redesigned from the ground up. They are supposed to install quickly, uninstall cleanly and run so light that you should not be able to tell they are there at all.

As it's new, there is no large sampling out there to know exactly how well they have accomplished their goal. But it's good to know someone at Symantec understands what a mess they had been in.

Anyone who posts/reads this BB knows how much of a Norton hater I have been. But that said, I plan to test this new version to see how much of a change it really is.

BTW... In no way do I endorse Norton 360. It still consists of the old bloated code.

http://www.symantec.com/norton/produ...stproducts.jsp

[Broni]

Even, if you pay me....LOL

[nganvu]

It's too good to be true.

[Welshjim]

Hmmm. NAV2009 Upgrade, Renew or Full version--same price.

[fink]

Redesigned from the ground up.

So does that mean they admit they had a faulty product?

Does it mean they were lying when they said it was the best or does it mean they were too incompetent to know?

[HAN]

Lying? I doubt we'll hear anything from that direction. But faulty? Maybe not quite that far but they absolutely admit things got out of hand. Supposedly, on a fresh install, from the first click to being fully installed is no more than 1 minute. Manual scan times are supposed to rival (or better) anything in the industry. Updates are as often as 10 to 20 per hour.

I am going to test NIS 2009 in a couple of days. It may well prove very interesting...

[HAN]

Jim: It's my understanding that a current NAV 2008 license is good for 2009. And while, if I were you, I would do a clean install, you are supposed to be able to do an over the top without issue...

[Welshjim]

HAN--Always appreciate your posts.
But not sure what you mean by "It's my understanding that a current NAV 2008 license is good for 2009". Any financial benefit? I have a 2008 license.
"I would do a clean install, you are supposed to be able to do an over the top without issue..."
I always unininstall a previous NAV using the Norton Removal Tool before installing a new version. That would seem to be even more prudent this year after what you say about the major changes in NAV 2009.
See, I always told you it was a good program.

[HAN]

Jim: To clarify, based on what I've read over at dslreports, if you want to upgrade to 2009, you can do so. Your 2008 NAV license is good for NAV 2009.

See, I always told you it was a good program.

Was? Well, I still don't think so. But maybe now, it is... (I still plan to test it within the next few days when I can set some time aside.)

[MadAmosMalone]

Hi all, I am new to this Forum I found it from a link at the anandtech forums a week or two ago and I have been lurking since to get the feel of the community here, and I like what I see and thought I could contribute. I was involved in the beta testing of NAV 2009 and was impressed with the changes that have been made for me even though it was beta it was stable and much faster than previous versions, The new update system is faster and gets you new definitions at least every 15 min. The memory footprint was very small and I liked the silent mode one click to have it not update and move itself to the background during video encoding was great. I also see they have increased to 1 year of free support in the public release version.These are just my personal observations I do not work for Symantec or have any financial interest in them but I also believe in acknowledging a when a manufacturer listens and tries to improve a product based on customer feedback. A good debate after all if it is honest and not biased by what was but is based on fact can only benefit both sides.
Amos

[HAN]

Welcome Amos! I think you'll find us a pretty good bunch. This was one of the first (if not THE first) PC info sites I started out with 6 years ago. Trust me, that if it wasn't friendly and helpful, I wouldn't have stuck around so long...

[Welshjim]

HAN--The DSL page about NAV2009 seems to be http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r210...ne-Now-On-Sale
But it seems to talk mostly about downloading the trial of the 2009 product. It is not completely clear how long that will remain valid using the 2008 key.

[HAN]

Jim: Yes, that's the thread. My impression wasn't that most were trialing 2009. I thought that most were licensed users already with 2008.

I guess the best way to clear this up... I'd call or email Symantec support and ask them if 2008 can move up to 2009 with no restrictions.

[MadAmosMalone]

I contacted them yesterday by e-mail this morning they replied that "You can upgrade your Norton 2008 product to the same Norton 2009 product with no additional charge and use the remainder of the subscription period on the latest 2009 product" The only difference in the trial and the full product is the activation key so install ing the trial and using an existing key it will last until the subscription for that key expires...at least that is how it usually works.

Amos

[Welshjim]

I also asked Symantec saying I had NAV 2008, and this is the response.
"I would like to inform you that, Symantec is providing free Upgrade to Norton 2009 product for Norton 2006/2007 customers who have valid subscription provided they are using Windows XP/Vista Operating System. When you download this update, the remaining subscription days from your Norton 2006/2007 product would be automatically transferred to Norton 2009 product."
It seems agreed that the free part is only for the remaining part of the prior NAV's subscription. There seems a little confusion about which prior NAV products have this option. I tend to agree with MadAmosMalone's info since there was more confusion in other parts of the email I got. (I suspect it came from India.)