Windows 7: The better program, Norton 360v3 or the free microsoft?

Hello all. I am new here, just got Windows 7 yesterday. I have Norton 360v3 up and running on it, as I had it with my old XP. My question is though, is the new free one from microsoft better, even being free? I want to use whatever one is better and more secure to virus/trojans and all that stuff, I hate viruses, not that I get them often, but when I have gotten some, it was painfull. Same for keeping out adware and all that.

What is the suggestion? On XP Norton was okay, things still kind of 'snuck' by, I want to know if the new microsoft one functions well. Thanks!

to be very honest I lost all faith in Norton a few years back when norton servers were used to distribute viruses across the LAN/WAN.

I use free avg and have for as long as I can remember... I've never had an issue with it.

Few people have switched from avg free to MS and haven't had a problem thus far.

Been using the MSE one for sometime now... Been problem free... I downloaded avast free and run it now and then just to confirm my system is clean. GL

what?? is this true?