Norton 360 - Issues [maybe 300 :) but not 360 ]

You would think only Microsoft can overlook important issues like disabling network search in vista when it was possible in XP but Norton is not far behind.

I am a big fan of the Norton Password manager ( bundled with Norton Systemworks) . I read great reviews of Norton 360 and anyway I had to get Norton 2007 for my Vista premium edition so i decided to buy it . I got the software from Best Buy and installed it in my vista box and i did not have issues .

Then I removed Zone Alarm from my XP Home edition and tried to install Norton 360. The installation refused to even start as i had the Norton Password Manager .I know for a fact that Norton 360 did not have that feature but I was really skeptical of upgrading to Norton Confidential as i was worried i may lose my existing passwords. Fortunately there was a trial offer to download and use Norton Confidential . I tried that in my Vista PC and i was denied again as there was an error message stating that the two applications (Norton 360 and Norton Confidential) were not compatible !.

So the issue is two fold now Norton 360 does not have the password manager featured in Norton Confidential (Systemwork before) but 360 would not let me install it even if I am willing to buy it !.

I contacted Norton support and the response was that Norton would release a Add On to 360 to include the password manager but they don’t have a release date as of now.

I was sure Norton is losing revenue/customers because of this huge design mistake . I really believe that they rushed to make sure they have a product to support vista but then as always with a rushed plan/design they overlooked this feature. This reminded me of a company I know which had business units from different continents competing for the same project and the the client threw both of them out for being such a non-cohesive unit . If i were the Project manager for Norton Confidential I would be really pissed off.

I would urge the Norton folks to deliver a patch to this issue before customers look for other options .