Not long time ago I visited 2 Eastern European countries from the former
Soviet Union. I was totally shocked with the number of pirated software
packages. Absolutely everything can be found on the streets or in the
markets. For instance, there I found a very expensive design package called
20-20 for kitchen design. It cost $50. And everything that Microsoft sells
is very inexpensive, almost free. For instance, Office 2007 was $20. I mean
everything I am using here, in the USA was there for almost nothing. When I
asked why they sell pirated software the answer was - it is too expensive to
buy a legitimate copy. Actually it is. An average person making $200 per
month cannot afford to buy Microsoft software. Thus, the market "regulates"
the pricing strategy. The people there told us that in China the pirated
copied are even cheaper. Nothing that Microsoft can do. Statistics show that
even the police is using pirated software. Until Microsoft adjusts the
pricing strategy to the affordability index, the same will continue. This
why most of the younger generation is installing Linux and free office
software.