NEVER do business with Bestbuy Again

[Swatter]

Just like everything else in life, the more comfortable you are with said product or service, the better off you are. Despite being priced about 10% over online shopping outlets, I still find I like the convenience of being able to drive down the street and get something right away when needed. I don't need their useless advice or tech support. I know exactly what I want and how the price compares to other outlets. I never have to speak with anyone there. It works for me.

I would never buy a desktop from a big box store, at least none around where I live. I can build a PC with twice any given spec at 2/3 the price (or better). It's not really that hard either, just do some homework and watch a few PC building tutorials.

[GDS_Starfury]

I've got HHGregg, bestbuy, Cosco, Brandmart, CompUSA (tiger direct) and various small mom and pop stores to choose from.

[Martok]

Damn Jarhead, sorry to hear about your shitty experience with them.  I bet I've not purchased more than $100 worth of products/services from Best Buy in the last five years...and that's mostly been PC games and movies.  The staff at my local store is actually fairly decent, but I know I've been luckier than some. 

As for Norton, it has always been Satan's software.  My own experience with it has been nothing other than utterly horrible, and at least a couple of my friends' experiences with Norton have been similarly unpleasant. 

By the way, Jarhead, I strongly recommend Toonces' suggestion of putting AVG Free on your computer.  It's as safe and effective an anti-virus program as you'll find these days, and you can't beat the price. 

[Yskonyn]

I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.

I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.

[Staggerwing]

Bestbuy is circling the drain anyway. I wouldn't trust any warranty or subscription from them to last another year or two at, *ehem*, best.

10 years ago it was fun to brows the huge selection of games and movies there but even then they had a poor reputation for supporting the products they sold. The last few times I visited Bestbuy I did what any good opportunistic shopper does- I looked at stuff I wanted, tried it out, took some pix with my iPhone, and then went home and ordered online. Then I got a Squaretrade warranty to cover it.

[Grim.Reaper]

It is interesting on all the takes of internet security software....seems like they all have strengths and weaknesses.

I know people always say Norton is the devil, but I have been using some form of it for likely over 10 years without a single issue.  Never have been infected with any virus or compromised to the best of my knowledge.  Haven't really had any issues with games and web sites, except for the occasional false positive (rare) which I am sure all software encounter to some degree.  As best as I can recall, Norton has never interfered or prevented me from playing any of my games.

In the last couple of years, I have also installed Malwarebytes for added protection and with both of them combined, I feel pretty safe and have no concerns with screwing up my gaming.

But again, I believe it comes down to personal preference and I am sure the others are just as good.

As for Best Buy, I haven't had any issues from them, but I don't buy any computers from them, I build my own.  Typically my purchases are limited to movies, TVs, phones, and other small items.  I do see them going away at some point, just too hard too compete with the online retailers....but I did use to find it fun just to browse around.

[Martok]

I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.

I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.

Personally, my biggest problem with Avast was how it nagged me to upgrade to a paid version 20-30 times a day (and no, that's not hyperbole).  I agree it's effective, though. 

[bobarossa]

I haven't been to a Best Buy since 2002, with 1-2 odd exceptions for something like a Kindle case.  I think I've spent maybe $100 there total in the past decade-plus.  The guys at the store in Dublin, OH were assholes and when I tried to talk to the manager, he blew me off, and when I wrote a letter to corporate about getting blown off, I got a tepid generic response and no follow-up.  Never been back and never looked back.  I do miss Circuit City, though.  It was nice to be able to wander around an electronics store every now and then

I've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now.  I know what you mean about Circuit City.  Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter.  It's closer to me anyway.

[Rayfer]

It is interesting on all the takes of internet security software....seems like they all have strengths and weaknesses.

I know people always say Norton is the devil, but I have been using some form of it for likely over 10 years without a single issue.  Never have been infected with any virus or compromised to the best of my knowledge.  Haven't really had any issues with games and web sites, except for the occasional false positive (rare) which I am sure all software encounter to some degree.  As best as I can recall, Norton has never interfered or prevented me from playing any of my games.

In the last couple of years, I have also installed Malwarebytes for added protection and with both of them combined, I feel pretty safe and have no concerns with screwing up my gaming.

But again, I believe it comes down to personal preference and I am sure the others are just as good.

As for Best Buy, I haven't had any issues from them, but I don't buy any computers from them, I build my own.  Typically my purchases are limited to movies, TVs, phones, and other small items.  I do see them going away at some point, just too hard too compete with the online retailers....but I did use to find it fun just to browse around.

GR....+1.  I've used Norton for many years and have had no issues and no virus problems, etc.  It hasn't been a problem with gaming either. 

[bayonetbrant]

I've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now.  I know what you mean about Circuit City.  Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter.  It's closer to me anyway.

Yep, that Microcenter is right down the street from my folks, and I'd MUCH rather go there than anywhere near a Circuit City.  We also have a Tiger Direct / CompUSA here, too.  It's a pain to get to (esp since I could literally walk to Best Buy from my house) but sometimes just wandering around there is nice.

[Grim.Reaper]

I've been to the Tuttle Crossing store but only use it for appliances now.  I know what you mean about Circuit City.  Now if I'm going to a brick and mortar, I go to Microcenter.  It's closer to me anyway.

Yep, that Microcenter is right down the street from my folks, and I'd MUCH rather go there than anywhere near a Circuit City.  We also have a Tiger Direct / CompUSA here, too.  It's a pain to get to (esp since I could literally walk to Best Buy from my house) but sometimes just wandering around there is nice.

Agreed....Microcenter is near to me as well....great place, has anything you could want for computers and such.....use to spend many days just browsing around, especially when they use to have aisles of PC Games.  They still have a decent selection compared to other stores, but their games do tend to be more expensive then you can get elsewhere.

[Nefaro]

As for Norton, it has always been Satan's software.  My own experience with it has been nothing other than utterly horrible, and at least a couple of my friends' experiences with Norton have been similarly unpleasant. 

This.


New computer smell?  Step 1 -> Uninstall Norton and any other bloatware it came with.  Hell, format the the thing and install a fresh copy of vanilla Windows if you can get your paws on the same Windows OEM version.  ;)

When I purchased my laptop last year, I probably went through and uninstalled Norton and about twenty programs before doing anything else.  Avast has worked great for me over the last few years and I didn't have to do anything other than register an email with them. 


Unfortunately, the only computer electronics store I have nearby is Best Buy so I tend to just order everything from Newegg and wait for it to show up.  Haven't been to BB in about six or seven years.  There's probably another store somewhere in the area but it would likely be over an hour round trip.

[steve58]

I would vote against AVG free, I am sorry.

I have had it miss malicious software on several occasions now and I just don't trust it anymore.
If you want a free alternative, you could go for Avast!, which is a decent anti-virus, but is known to cause some minor problems while gaming with certain games (mainly MMO's). Another good option is Microsoft's own Security Essentials.

Actually, not according to Microsoft themselves  ;)

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/security/384394/microsoft-security-essentials-is-designed-to-be-bottom-of-the-antivirus-rankings

I've used Norton the last several years with no problems and may continue to use it if I can find it for very cheap/free next year.  I tend to buy the new version each year for about $25 rather than renew the subscription for the previous years version.

I was somewhat p*ssed off earlier this year when my Norton 2013 subscription not only ran out (expected), but the app actually quit working (totally unexpected)...apparently a new "feature" for my protection.  If I hadn't already bought the 2014 version sometime ago, I'd have gone looking for something else this year.

[panzerde]

You might give the free version of BitDefender a try. Very light-weight and evaluated as one of the best for AV protection. I do this stuff for a living and it's what I personally run on my Windows systems.

AVG is not bad and what we resell to customers. MS Security Essentials used to be good, but lack of attention from MS has left it as one of the worst. Norton is commonly used but is only mediocre in terms of protection and I've seen it wreck systems.

Here's the link for BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

Here's a review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp

[Grim.Reaper]

You might give the free version of BitDefender a try. Very light-weight and evaluated as one of the best for AV protection. I do this stuff for a living and it's what I personally run on my Windows systems.

AVG is not bad and what we resell to customers. MS Security Essentials used to be good, but lack of attention from MS has left it as one of the worst. Norton is commonly used but is only mediocre in terms of protection and I've seen it wreck systems.

Here's the link for BitDefender: http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

Here's a review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2421252,00.asp

I had high hopes for this one and tried it a few years back when I was just taking a look at what was out there since it seemed cheaper and there was buzz about it......installed it and ended up causing the blue screen of death for me.  I am sure they have likely improved and I have seen them rated highly recently, but that past experience has scared me from trying again:)