You don't have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars for a
complete TeX system. You can download one off the Web if you're willing to burn up a little connect time. And if you use UNIX or Linux, chances are TeX is already installed. Windows users have an excellent free TeX system available to them in the form of MikTeX.
Configuring TeX can be a chore. To avoid the inevitable frustration, many people turn to commercial implementations. These set up the system and offer a familiar work environment. For Windows, the best commercial TeX packages I've
come across are PCTeX and Y&Y TeX. On the Mac side of the fence, check out Textures.
Unfortunately, this article only touches on TeX's power. You really have to try it to see what it can do. Like many people around the world, you may find it's the perfect choice for all your publishing needs.