Clif - I don't know if you can use this for the newsletter, but I just did a cost analysis for a home-user basic rig with the "necessary software."

Software costs for outfitting a new computer with Windows XP home, purchased off the shelf at any BestBuy in Wisconsin (at 5% sales tax).


Microsoft Office 2003 - Student / Teacher Edition ... $112.49
Quicken 2007 - $59.95
CyberPatrol $39.95
Trend Micro Internet Security 2007 Edition $49.95
2 year Subscription $89.95
Tivoli Backup $39.95
Ad-Aware SE -$29.95

SubTotal = $412.19
With Tax $20.61
Total = $432.80


Cheaper -

Microsoft Works Suite 2006 $99.95 (But it doesn't do MS Office formats)
MS Money - $49.95
Norton Anti-virus 2007 - $39.95

You save - $189.85
SubTotal = $212 .34
Tax = $10.63
Total = $223.27


Cheapest

OpenOffice 2.0 Premium $0.00
Mozilla Thunderbird with calendar/tasks add-in - $0.00
Alwil Software Avast Antivirus - $0.00
one year subscription - $0.00
ZoneAlarm Personal Firewall - $0.00
Pl-Cash Personal Checking - $0.00
Computer maintanance - ToniArt Easycleaner - $0.00
Anti Spyware - Spybot Search and Destroy free -$0.00
Upgrades - $0.00
Backup: Cobian Backup - $0.00

And:

DVD playback - FreeDVD codec - - $0.00
Advanced image manipulation - Gnu Image Manipulation Program - $0.00
DVD burner - DVD Creator Pro - $0.00
Create PDF's - PDF Creator - $0.00
Movie editor - VDub - $0.00
Games - your choice from 3519 titles at http://www.caimen.us/ - $0.00

SubTotal = $0 .00
Tax = $0.00
Total = $0.00


John H.