I took the liberty of doing a search using "anti virus" (sans the quotes) in the search engine on the forum's home page. I do recognize 170 entries is a bit high. However, I quickly scrolled through the pages and found several similar requests as yours. Perhaps they might answer your questions and of course if not members here are always glad to help.

The same approach might be useful to you using "firewall" as you referred to Zone Alarm.

DA

I use Trend Micro and have had no problems and for the money, think it's an excellent program. It contains a firewall, spyware, trojan and virus checker. It's not all that hard to set up.

I used McAfee sometime back, and had problems with the program. Took forever to get it off my machine. I've since replaced it with the Trend Micro package.

I also had McAfee which came free with my Verizon, I was amazed when I removed it that many of the serious problems I had been experencing with my pc vanished when McAfee was completely removed and that was a real pain getting it off.
Norton also has a hard product to remove, both have put out a removal tool which should definitely be used to remove them from the pc.

If you just feel the need to purchase a product I would say Nod 32 by ESET is about one of the top rated by most of the MVP's.

Do you want just an Antivirus or an entire suite? AV, firewall, antispyware etc all combined?

I personally do not like suites, I prefer select individual programs.

ESET
Award honors given to ESET

what I run currently on my windows boxes, AVAST free, zone alarm pro, malwarebytes antimalware, superantispyware, spywareblaster, at a minimum.

This poll from BBR may be helpful, it is the newest 2008 AV poll, as you can see the top 2 are free AV 3rd in line is Nod 32.
AntiVirus Poll 2008

Like you, I have used Norton for years. I've never had a virus or worm. If it works, why switch? That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.

I use Nod 32 by ESET on Windows 7 and Windows Vista and have always used AVG on Windows XP.

ravencajun has given you a great link to the poll to help with your decision.

I too have been using Trend Micro and haven't had any issues. It has worked pretty well since getting this Vista machine.

Bob

AVG Free or Paid.
I have always used the "Free" version with no problems, on my personal computers and those I work on for friends and family.

You should only have one(1) anti-virus on your computer...not several.
Hope this helps..
txKen

Up until last year, I had used McAfee, but it became a resource hog and began to lengthen the boot-up time. I switched to Norton Internet Security and have been satisified with it.

I had to ditch Web Root's Spy Sweeper because of its very bad manners, horendeous system delays, and its resistance to user control.

For years I used the free ones, like Zone, and also the spyware ones, plus the free firewall. Then I tried Zone Alarm security suite, which worked super great for 5 mo. It had the firewall, spyware, and antivirus all in one item, which was nice. Then on one update, it made the machine go crazy, and I could not update it. We tried for 2 weeks with no success, and I could not use the pc. Finally it went in the shop, and the fellow said that the Zone S. Suite was conflicting with Windows programs. So it had to be removed. That happened in June, and I go on their site, to see how it is going on, and they are still having problems. They also refused to refund my money, which was over half a yr. left. Recently I put in Vipre, after much study. You can get a 15 day trial on it, and also the company has a firewall that is quite good. I bought the virus protection after the trial, and it also has spyware protection, and I love it. Also it uses the less amount of space on your pc, according to their chart on many of the virus protection plans. I had two professionals tell me that Vipre was the way to go, so I have had it now for several months.
Darlene

On my 3 computers I have the free versions of Avira, Avast and AVG and all of them have kept their respective computers clean.

Darlene if your issue with Zonealarm was a few months ago then I believe you will find that problem was created by Microsoft not Zonealarm. Microsoft put out a patch to fix the glitch but not before a hue and cry over the issue.