Have you tried NOD32 from eset? Been using that for a year or two now, doesn't take up a lot of space and is fairly unobtrusive. (Their heuristics aren't the best, and I usually shut that part down).

Are are you the exception? A grand generalizer anyways.

You can actually run stuff from the search bar, and at the same time it will search ahead for what you are typing...actually my favorite feature in Vista and something I actually miss when in XP.

On my Vista box at home I don't even go into Programs anymore, just start typing Far and it brings up Far Cry, Far Cry 2 etc...good stuff.