I've recently become a fan of open-source software, which is basically free software with open source code that can be modified or improved by anyone. Instead of Microsoft Office, I use the similar, and completely free, Open Office.

The amazing thing about open-source software is that it is communally maintained. When there is a problem of shortcoming in the code, instead of calling Microsoft's customer support and waisting a good hour, you can post your problem on a related message board, and usually within no time at all the community of software programmers will respond with an answer.

Aside from being a fascinating model of social interaction through technology and an alternative mode of production, open-source technology has promising practical applications in developing nations (much like generic forms of prescription drugs). For example, South Africa's Science and Technology Minister recently called for more open-source software in government departments.

The use of open source rather than proprietary software would have enormous benefits for the economy and society of SA, he said. But the unwillingness of some hi-tech suppliers to adopt more open, accessible and flexible technologies would mean technology remained unaffordable and inaccessible to most people in developing countries.

"Open source should be promoted to compete with the other software and I am trying to see if we can have some government departments migrating to use both proprietary and open-source software," Mangena said.

Open-source isn't likely to bring software giants like Microsoft to their knees, but maybe it can help struggling nations off of theirs.