Others say...

"Despite the negative reviews, NIS 2007 should be fine for most users with 1GB RAM"
As someone who has had good experience with NIS 2004 and 2006 over the past 3 years, I hesitated to install NIS 2007 after reading all the negative reviews posted on Amazon. Numerous reviewers who appear to be experienced computer users indicate dramatically slowed internet access and computer crashes trying to go on-line, problems in starting up, problems with running standard software, and problems with NIS installation. One reviewer, trying to counter these concerns, suggests that perhaps the problems these folks were encountering are due to not having configured the installation properly; but this raises further concerns by implying that, in 2007 (unlike prior years), some sophistication is now required during the installation process.

So it was with some trepidation that I finally gave in and bought NIS 2007. My conclusion, after a week with this new software: It's just fine. It installed easily. It has not slowed my e-mail and internet access one iota, nor has it otherwise degraded computer performance. Users with 1GB RAM probably do not need to worry about encountering problems if they install NIS 2007.

My success with this software could be due in part to the fact that I have 1GB of dual-channel RAM. (The Sept 2007 issue of Consumer Reports indicates that you probably need 1 gig of memory for use of any of the security suites on the market.) Perhaps some of the reviewers who have had bad experiences had inadequate RAM. Also, I have a Windows XP system with only standard software packages on my computer (e.g., MS Office 2003, WordPerfect Office 12, Paint Shop Pro X); perhaps some of the folks who have had problems have more esoteric web-derived software. I have Time Warner broadband internet access; I wonder if the problems may be related to the specific internet access provider, or the nature of the access (dial-up vs. DSL vs. cable).

This is not to dismiss the serious problems that some have experienced. There is clearly a finite chance that a problem can be ecountered with any security suite. (A friend bought a Dell computer with McAfee pre-installed, and her Time Warner broadband service stopped operating until McAfee was uninstalled.) I'm just suggesting that your chances of having a problem with this product are probably much smaller than the number of negative reviews here would imply, since it's the folks who have had problems who are most likely to post reviews here.

I give NIS 2007 4 rather than 5 stars because Consumer Reports (Sept 2007) rates its effectiveness the lowest of the security suites it reviewed. However, in the 3 years I've been using NIS, I have not experienced any of the threats that NIS is supposed to guard against. So either I'm lucky, or the suite is doing its job. I also grade NIS 2007 down for saying on the box that only 256MB RAM is required, when, in fact, RAM requirements may be four times that.

"Is it working?"
I sometimes wonder, despite my advanced system. Occasionally, a problem will occur or something just won't work with the program. I'd say that most of time it does it's job. I question its effectiveness when it comes to identifying spyware (I have Spy Sweeper for that - but beware: NIS can have operating conflicts with THAT program if not installed properly). I absolutely HATE their ATROCIOUS "customer support". When I've requested it either through email or chat, you ALWAYS end up with someone who doesn't understand English very well, and I am often VERY suspicious of the "help" they have to offer - it is as though they have lobotomized monkeys sitting at consoles with a list of scripts that vaguely match whatever issues or problems one has with NIS. They take a look at your query, and give you whatever they hope might work. It's very frustrating. Honestly, I just don't feel like their support UNDERSTANDS English!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!! If there's a better security suite out there I will definitely consider ABANDONING Symantec and its HORRIBLE "support"!!

"Words just can't describe this product"
I now have 9 licenses for this crime against bad programming. At first it looked like some of the many odious problems of previous sour vintages had been resolved but trust Norton, no.

Two problems have been somewhat resolved
1) When you want to load the program to change settings or run a manual scan, unlike previous versions where you could take a coffee break during the process, it now loads in a few seconds
2) When an update fails ( and they do, as usual ), when you restart the update, it usually resumes where it left off ( so you don't lose the partial download )

ALL of the other bad problems, however, remain
1) It often ( ALWAYS in my case ) totally screws up your computer. I have two new HP NW9440 notebooks. Only MatLab, Open Office, Adobe Acrobat and Visual Studio on them. Kaput. Long, long hangs during resume from hibernation. ( I told those outsourced wonders about this long ago - "Sir, it is not our problem". Anyways, I used msconfig to totally disable this piece of junk ( these two computers are used for work, not play so they are never connected to the Internet so I can get away with this ). Now, no problems and the computers run fine. "Sir, it is not our problem". "No, Norton is the problem"
2) Actually, EVERY computer I have has this problem. ( I use hibernation on all of them )
3) This program is EXTREMELY intrusive. Norton just HAS to let you know that it is THERE. With their obnoxious huge bright yellow icons, the extra bar in Internet Explorer, etc. ( You have to disable all this CRAP ). If you have extreme epilepsy, as I do, there is blinking, etc, which cause me untold misery. Also, if you have dialup, NIS sucks up the bandwidth ( as does Adobe Acrobat with it's automatic updates ) unless you manually disable automatic updates
4) Norton STILL screws you on multiple licenses. As I said, I have two identical HP NW9440 notebooks. I installed two legal versions of NIS2007 a few weeks apart on them ( I purchased them several weeks apart ). Naturally, Norton truncated the time period for the second installation by several weeks. ( This is how these corporations increase their profit margin, by nickel and dime-ing everyone as the US government doesn't care about anything any more )
5) Updates sometimes crash Norton. Also, update downloads sometimes fail because Norton's servers sometimes dump you.

The only positive note is that the installation ( especially the downloading of updates after this initial installation ) have been less painful than previous versions.

Essentially, this version fixes a few of the previous bugs while continuing most of them ( Anyone for Norton Internet Security 3007? )

It would be nice if those pneumocephalics in Washington would establish software reliability and usability standards but they won't do anything to actually improve this country. Hot air increases global warming.

"Fee-based Internet Security Support a Ripoff"
My computer (9 months old) has acquired a virus, spyware, trojan or ??? that hijacks my home page and replaces it with a full-page ad for something called "Ultimate Cleaner." I ran a full scan with this product (Norton Internet Security 2007) and it found nothing. Frustrated, I called Symantec. I was told that they would take control of my computer and do the deed--for $99.00. A big gulp, but I wanted to get rid of the hijacking. The tech (offshore, probably India) played around for over an hour. I was able to watch him on my monitor as he diddled around, removing some temp files and a few dlls. He then ran Live Update and a full system can, telling me to call back if any problems are found. I said "What about the problem I called about?" He advised that he was unable to solve the problem. I asked how I get my refund of the useless $99.00 fee (which I stupidly put on my debit card.) He said the fee is not refundable!!!!!!!! I have used Norton since Dr. Peter was there. Foolishly, I have continued to use their products each year, as they became less-and-less effective. This is the last time I will EVER buy anything from Symantec. Norton Internet Security has fallen from grace, and their game of conning their customers into spending $99.00 to play around, with no solution, is reprehensible.

"where is it?"
Sorry, I can't rate this item as I never received it. I have contacted the shipper twice asking for shipping info, etc. and as of this date (8/09/07, 9:07 pm) have received absolutely no replies. Your acknowledgemrnt said ship via Fedex, theirs said something else. Not very happy with this transaction. Bob Nelson