Are paid versions of free antivirus software worth the bucks?

I recently replied to a user on a Google group about AVG antivirus; the software is asking her to buy the paid version, and she can’t even update her virus definitions.

I’ve been through a lot of antivirus experience myself. I write a blog about antiviruses (http://avscan.blogspot.com), and from my experience free antivirus software don’t perform as well as the big names. So, are their paid versions any better? I would very much like to get a definitive public opinion (if there ever is such a thing!) on this.

(By the way, I discouraged the lady using AVG to upgrade because AVG hasn’t worked out for me.)
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tashfeen
http://techqi.blogspot.com
http://avscan.blogspot.com