[andrewas]

winXP firewall is incompatable with a number of internet products. Not a problem for most, but it means I cant use it even if I did trust it.

And thats the thing. I trust M$ to make an (almost)acceptably stability OS. I trust them to provide APIs for graphics, sound, etc. But I will *not* *ever* trust them with security. They have an interest in having access to systems running their OS. They have some kind of deal with the FBI if I remember rightly, Ill try and find a link on that.

In any case, if you want a secure machine, the security program has to come from an independant company with nothing to gain from having a backdoor in it.