Would you pay for Anti-Virus Software?

I know we've talked about free anti-virus software previously, and also free anti-spyware software and backup software - but would you actually pay for anti virus / firewall / anti spyware software / backup software? Even when there's free stuff out there? I've recently been trying some anti-virus / internet security software and found the following, some of it seems fairly reasonably priced:

Kaspersky AV - £35 for 3 pc license, 1yr - does AV software, scans your email, even tells you when you're missing security updates. This seems to work well - but the full "internet security" version is only £30 which makes this one seem expensive. It seems to go further than the free AV software by telling you when Outlook needs a security update for example. However - it did detect a friends 12,000 MP3s as containing viruses and promptly deleted them all!

Bullguard Internet Security - £15 for 3 pc license, ?yr - this does anti virus software, anti spyware, firewall, spamfilter, and online backup. Appears to be excellent value for money, comes with a clear and easy to understand manual, and the spam filter and online backup could be useful, especially as you get 5gb (!) of online storage. The online backup could in fact be one of the most appealling features of this software as it provides full scheduling, some advanced options, such as keeping different versions of files, and allows you to compress the backup and even encrypt it with a passphrase. So, 3 PCs backed up online for £15, sounds like a complete bargain to me. The anti virus software scan seems quite quick, found a virus inside an email that avast didn't, and unlike some other software doesn't slow the PC down even on a fairly low spec Windows XP laptop. The software seems very easy to use, with a clear and logical user interface.

Norton Internet Security - is £40 for 3 pcs, and is rubbish, and to be avoided like the plague. Whenever I've used it on PCs or experienced it because it's come pre-installed it's always seemed to cause problems and slowness, and very little protection because the pre-installed versions only lasted 90 days.

McAfee Internet Security - £22 for 3pc license. We use Mcafee AV software in work, and it's generally good as an anti virus solution - with very regular updates - and generally good and finding and removing viruses. I've not tried the internet security so don't know what it's like.

Microsoft OneCare - £20, 3users. This seems to be a combination of anti virus software, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, and firewall - which is a bit odd, especially as Microsoft already provide a free firewall, free anti-spyware software, and free phishing protection with the latest versions of IE. It does offer auto defrag, backup and a few other features, and I guess this simplifies it all, so you can manage it all in one package without having to maintain different pieces of software, and I guess that's the appeal of using an "all in on" internet security package.

There's also AVG Internet Security (£40, 3 users, 2 years), and Panda Internet Security (£18, 3 users), Trend (£40), and Bitdefender (£18).

What seems to be somewhat strange about all of this is the fact that some of these solutions don't tell you how long the subscription will last - this could have a massive effect on value for money, and PC protection, ideally you'd want something that will last several years without you having to spend money every couple of years. The prices seem to vary quite dramatically from £17 to £40 - with £40 obviously seeming a little too expensive, especially if you have problems with the software, or can find free software instead. And do you really need a 3rd party Firewall when Windows XP (SP2) comes with a built in firewall?

I guess you could setup free software to do everything these programs do, but pc security, data protection and backups have become something even people with very little PC knowledge want to do - and this software can simplify the whole process dramatically - and for this reason I guess it could be worth buying this software. Just think of the time saved by using one of these programs.

OneCare seems like it would integrate the best into Windows, and provide better automatic updates, and PC performance optimisation, and whilst it does provide backups, it doesn't provide online backup, whereas Bullguard seems to provide the best offsite / online backup solution.

Very clever video editing technique...

Engadget have details (and a video) showing how photographs can be inserted into (low quality) video to increase resolution (by 4x), increase dynamic range (making HDR video), enhance exposure, remove objects from video, or alter content in video in other ways - even change a pic of you baby for a picture of Dave Mustaine rocking big time with Megadeth.

Chicken Run on BBC iPlayer

Chicken Run on iplayer. Till the 16th of August.

lightning in super slow motion

made me go wow anyway. link

Radiohead Nude Remix made with a Spectrum, Printer, Scanner, and numerous Hard Drives...

It takes a little while to get going but this Nude remix has to be one of the most awesome things I've ever seen* - for reference this is the original Nude - Radiohead track, and this is how you turn hard drives into speakers! * I may have seen more awesome things, I can't remember.