Regarding Rob Hindle's letter in the 6 September issue of Computing (UK software prices shiver me timbers, letters.computing.co.uk).

I am an IT manager and have previously bought multiple Adobe software products. I have noticed for years that Adobe prices in the UK are unjustifiably too high compared with the US prices, no matter what the exchange rate at the time. However, with the recent release of Adobe Creative Suite 3, and the continuing decline in the value of the US dollar, this has gone from being merely outrageous to what should be criminal.

I will not be upgrading our existing Adobe software and I will not be buying any additional Adobe software until Adobe comes to its senses and stops ripping off UK and European customers.

The excuses Adobe gives for UK prices being higher than the US include higher cost of wages, higher cost of office space, other higher costs of doing business, currency fluctuations and tax.

While the above may justify some price premium, they do not justify, for example, Creative Suite 3 Design Premium Upgrade costing more than double the US price.

While our software licences are legal, such punitive pricing by Adobe hardly discourages piracy.

John Lockwood