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.