[plug] [Fwd: Fwd: [Fwd: Response from ATO re ECI]]]

[Nikhil Jogia]

Interesting....though I can see why the ATO is hesitant to produce a 
Linux version - if only one or two hundred businesses will use it, then 
it would probably be cheaper to buy those businesses a copy of Windows 
at say $100 per copy.

However, most small businesses would use their PC for email, web, 
office/productivity apps and some even their BAS statements. The way MS 
is pricing its products for businesses nowadays, there'd be a lot of 
small businesses making the switch to Linux, especially with the 
promotion of web standards, ODF and Open Document formats, as well as 
the nice eye candy that comes with many distros.

That said, being written in Java they should have made an effort for it 
to be cross platform to start off with. I know they have an OSX version, 
why not a Linux version? I dare say, if you exclude the graphic design 
and related industries, there's an equal amount of businesses using 
Linux than Mac for their desktops.

In any case, the ECI software is painful at best - they really should 
have made it, along with etax 100% web based. I find it crazy I am able 
to transfer $30K per day on the web through online banking, yet have to 
go through the ECI software to lodge a BAS.