I prefer avast av thesedays, its also has free and pro versions

Have to add Winpatrol


http://www.winpatrol.com/download.html

Took Norton (full package!) out of my PC a few weeks back....... just too resource-hungry and a pain in the backside, it wants to be 'doing' something all the damn time!! Tried a few freebies (like Avast, AVG and others) and after a trial, settled on Microsoft Security Essentials!!
IMO, as a simple interfaced Virus and malware package, it is phenomenal, to say the least!! My cousin sent a bunch of virus-affected emails to all in her address book? Not her fault but AVG did not pick it up for her!! I added the Comodo Firewall to the Microsoft package and I admit, I feel really, really protected between the two!! First, Comodo picked-up on an 'unknown program' trying to access the Internet, change registry settings, etc. etc. and at the same time, without even a scan, Microsoft picked-up the worm and all it's variants and sanitised the lot!! Very impressive and absolutely free!! (both the MS and Comodo packages!!)

only problem I ahve with comodo (and I use the suite) is that it can be chirpy as *fupp*, if you think UAC is annoying, it's nothing on Comodo

Norton is a nonsense package. Everyone would be well advised avoiding it. I keep asking IT to change their policy where we work because it makes our lives hell when it reduces a commit that should take 30 seconds to taking about 5 minutes.

I use Nod32 at home. Don't even notice it is there.

doesnt matter i dont think, it now does vista.

whats the latest gen on AV products. Used to always use AVG/Spybot at home, and recommend it to friends and relations.

Both of these seem to have gone downhill, and appear to be letting things through.

My current recommendations I am leaning towards Avast/Malwarebytes.

Anything else I should be considering?

I have found latley that AVG have become a 'spammer' themselves. I still use it, but am on the lookout for something else

avast is great.

Got 2 on my Win7 lappy
Comodo freebie security suite and its a lot better now.
Antivir security suite, paid version
both are damn good, both learn your habits and once you get that out of the way they settle down.

oh Win7 is what Vista shouldve been after xp.

have a look at bitdefender, it's a fully featured security package that isnt resource hungry and doesn't seem to impact on the pc's speed