New Laptop- Internet security

[Oh_Mutants]

Just inherited a laptop, need to get some dcent anti-virus software on there, and a firewall i guess. I'm really not very techy when it comes to this stuff at all, and usually just bugger it and subscribe to Norton on my home P.C
Don't really wanna pay for another programme for my laptop too, so can anybody recommend me/link me to some good, free anti virus software. Is AVG any good, i see the free download doesn't have a firewall etc... what else would i need alongside this (if it's any good) to keep my laptop safe (firewall, spyware) etc etc?
Ta.

[charlesr]

Will you use the laptop anywhere except home? If not, then get a hardware firewall router. If you do, then zonelabs zonealarm is free I think.

Pay for something decent for antivirus (not norton), for example NOD32. I've tried free ones but they don't detect anything useful in comparison in my experience.

[gunrock]

I personally, recommend PC-Cillin by Trend. Always rated very highly in Anti-virus/firewall shootouts and in my experience, uses less resources and is more configurable than Norton/Symantec's offering.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I got Norton and it seem to work fine, what wrong with it. Just like to know.

[charlesr]

My machine sped up immensely once I'd removed Norton. Norton also didn't spot half of the viruses I was getting in spam emails.

[huxley]

^ as above - Norton made my lappy run like ***t!
Avast is a good bit of software - I kept it after the vista trial.