[plug] MS Office and TCO

[Colin Muller]

For what it's worth, below is another angle on the price you pay when
buying MS etc software originating in the USA instead of using [fF]ree
systems which can be sourced locally for the cost of locally-based
support contracts.

Colin

From:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/business/2000/09/item20000911095908_1.htm

In Melbourne for the World Economic Forum, the Zurich Group's global
chief economist, David Hale, says there is no short-term relief in sight
for the local currency after last week's all-time lows.

"Australia's problem is that while its economy has achieved major
breakthroughs in recent years in boosting productivity and also
utilising technology, [it] has fallen behind in the growth of output in
the IT [information technology] sector," he said.

"You don't have any major IT companies. You've got a $12 billion trade
deficit in this sector and it has given you the tag unfortunately of an
old economy currency."