Henry買了最新的超小電腦Orange SuperCom 4,拿給同事Sara和Mark看。Sara問他:
Sara: So did you already own an Orange SuperCom 3?
Henry: Yeah, I sold it on eBay last week.
M: I used to rush out and buy the latest gadgets as well, but I discovered that first generation products often have a lot of bugs in them.
H: Actually, Mark is right. Even this Orange SuperCom 4 is not quite up to snuff. The connection to the Internet is a bit slow, and it seems like the computer has a little trouble multitasking.
Mark說,他原來也是科技潮人,一出什么新玩藝兒,the latest gadgets, 馬上跑去買。gadget is spelled g-a-d-g-e-t, gadget 是小玩藝的意思,常指科技類產(chǎn)品。不過,Mark發(fā)現(xiàn),很多第一代,第二代產(chǎn)品都有很多 bugs, bugs在這里指技術(shù)方面的漏洞。Henry承認(rèn),他新買的SuperCom4 is not quite up to snuff. 也不是樣樣都好, up to snuff 意思是符合標(biāo)準(zhǔn),相當(dāng)于 up to standard.
M: The problem is that many times in the beginning they haven't quite ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. By the third or fourth generation the company's engineers have a better idea of what works and what doesn't.
S: I'm generally pretty content just to stay with the same system until it becomes obsolete. I still play my old cassette tapes at home.
M: That's one way to go. You know the old expression: "If it ain't broke...don't fix it."
S: Exactly, I use things until they literally fall apart.
H: I prefer the expression: "Out with the old and in with the new!"
Mark說,問題關(guān)鍵是,第一、二代產(chǎn)品時(shí),很多軟件中存在的小問題還都沒有得到解決。They haven't ironed out all the wrinkles in the software. to iron out 意思是抹平,解決。Sara說,她在這方面從不趕時(shí)髦,家里的東西都得用到過時(shí)。英語里有一種說法叫:If it ain't broke...don't fix it. 沒壞就不要去修它。Henry 崇尚的則是另一種境界:Out with the old and in with the new! 舊的不去,新的不來。
M: I guess the world needs both kinds of people. Early adopters of technology like Henry help pave the way into the future.
S: And people like me try to keep the pace of change down to a reasonable speed.
H: I have to tell you though...despite all its faults, the new Orange SuperCom 4 is really quite an amazing machine!
M: Maybe after work I can take a quick look at your new toy.
H: Sure! I love showing off my new gadgets! Sara, care to join us?
S: That's OK...I think I'll stay at home and play my cassette tapes. You guys have fun!
Mark說,Sara和Henry這兩種人,都是不可缺少的。他問Henry下班能不能去擺弄一下他的新玩具。Henry欣然同意,說:I love showing off my new gadgets! 我就喜歡顯擺我的新玩藝,to show off 是顯擺的意思,他還問Sara, care to join us? 要不要一起來。Sara開玩笑說,她還是選擇回家去聽她的磁帶錄音機(jī)。