avast! Internet Security vs. avast! Pro Antivirus (and ZA compatibility)

[sb_XoRtsava]

Hi all!
I've been using avast! Free Antivirus since around 5yrs. and Avast has really lived upto the expectations. (I'd shifted from AntiVir; and never returned to it there after!) But concerning the recent "boom" in Virus-Creation-and-Spread I'm bound to buy a professional antivirus. The first name that came in front was (o'course!) AVAST!
Avast is available in two popular versions: Internet Security and Pro Antivirus. I found out that even though Internet Sec offered far more features than Pro AV, it costs less (as there's 1+1yr free) as compared to Pro AV. My que is:
Does avast! Internet Security have SAME anti-virus engine (and its functioning/capabilities) as compared to avast! Pro Antivirus?
If yes, how can they sell it for so low cost?! Is it just because the product is new?!
(I'm concerned not just about malware from net, but also from removable media)

Secondly, I'm a user of ZoneAlarm (Free) since 7yrs. and I really am happy with it. I would love to continue using it, if possible. I wanted to ask:
Is avast! Internet Security compatible with ZoneAlarm Free Firewall?
(ZA is really good is controlling Program Access; but I'm not sure about Avast.)

Thank you!

[Lisandro]

Does avast! Internet Security have SAME anti-virus engine (and its functioning/capabilities) as compared to avast! Pro Antivirus?

Yes.

If yes, how can they sell it for so low cost?! Is it just because the product is new?!

Sales & marketing promotion.

Is avast! Internet Security compatible with ZoneAlarm Free Firewall?

For sure not. avast Internet Security is an antivirus + firewall, it's a suite.

[sb_XoRtsava]

Thank you very much for your answer, Tech!

I'm still little confused, because I'll be requiring a pro tool for protection from virus AND protection from phishing, etc (which avast! Internet Security will definitely offer me) as well as I need good control over Program Access (that's why I'm preferring ZoneAlarm.)

Is there any way that I can find an optimum solution?
(Like disabling any of the sub-features of avast! Internet Security that'll allow me use ZA as Prog Access Control tool, at the same time NOT VERY MUCH compromising the security from avast?!)

Thanks again!

[Lisandro]

I'm still little confused, because I'll be requiring a pro tool for protection from virus AND protection from phishing, etc (which avast! Internet Security will definitely offer me) as well as I need good control over Program Access (that's why I'm preferring ZoneAlarm.)

AIS also offer program access for sure. I think you mean control over inbound/outbound connections.

[sb_XoRtsava]

...I think you mean control over inbound/outbound connections.

Yes. The way you can control the Access to Trusted Zone or Internet OR Allowing a program to Act A Server in ZoneAlarm is simply amazing.
The 30-day trial of avast! Internet Security will be sufficient for me to discover these things, I guess!

[essexboy]

Here is a capture of the rules section. I find it very unintrusive

[sb_XoRtsava]

Thanks for the capture, essexboy!
Two things I'd like to primarily ask:

1. How often does it pop-up to ask for a decision (whether to allow net access or not?)
2. Does the connection resume after you Allow it?! (That's what I've read about firewalls other than ZA that, once the pop-up comes the connection (or request from the s/w) is already broken and Allowing it actually creates the Rule henceforth, NOT for the present issue)

e.g. You're installing some software which requires net access, there comes the firewall pop-up asking whether to allow this file to access internet. If you allow it there, does the installation proceed flawlessly?!

[essexboy]

As I do not install a lot of programmes that require net access, I may get one popup a month

Once you allow the connection it will continue

I will just try with a programme that requires updating when installing

[sb_XoRtsava]

Sure! Thanks!

[essexboy]

Here you go installed nicely and updated 

[Lisandro]

How often does it pop-up to ask for a decision (whether to allow net access or not?)

It has Allow, Block, Ask and Auto-decide profiles.

If you set Ask, a popup will ask you about the connection.
If you answer yes, the installation proceeds.

[sb_XoRtsava]

Thanks a lot for the efforts, essexboy!

Also thanks to Tech!

So, in all the needle is tilting towards ONLY USING avast! Internet Security rather than combining avast! (with sadly disabled a few sub-features) AND a separate Firewall software!

Any words over the RAM footprints?!

[essexboy]

Current task manager with service/process in alphabetial order just under 8K

[Lisandro]

Any words over the RAM footprints?!

In very rare systems, it fails.
Generally, low footprints.

Essexboy, you know that task manager is NOT precise in RAM consumption usage... 

[sb_XoRtsava]

WHOA!!! Less than 8M!!!

Well, Tech, have a look at mine one. I think you're right!
I'm using avast! Free Antivirus and still the RAM Usage is 4 times more!
(Does Windows XP SP3 has to do anything with it?! )