oddsod - 11:08 am on Feb 1, 2007 (gmt 0)

Ask Jon Honeyball how many PC companies they've actually done secret shopping at. The bulk of the credibility of the PC Pro mag (and reviews) is based on the claim that they regularly check up on the companies whose products they feature in the magazine. They don't. Hardly ever. In fact, they should be investigated for this con. I wouldn't go believing everything you read in there. Like anybody in the news business they sell more copies if they can sensationalise everything .... and they often do. They are one of the more respected PC magazines but they are often full of cr*p just like the others. For many years I've worked very closely with various PC magazines and you'll have to trust me on that ;). If I recall correctly PC Pro is one of the mags that had to apologise to Dixons when an OFT investigation [theregister.co.uk] cleared Dixons of that same "rip-off Britain" charge.

Bill Gates may or may not have evaded the question but as a figurehead for MS he's hardly likely to go criticising national governments/tax regimes. He plays the diplomat and often socialises with the very people responsible for plucking his tax feathers.

You may not accept it but direct and indirect taxes on businesses are a major determinant of the price you pay. Businesses are opportunists and would use that as an excuse for profiteering but it is naive to suggest that given the higher overall tax here the product should be sold for the same figure here as it is in the US.