ALEX: Can I help you? SHERRY: Yes, I need to buy a computer for this semester. I was told it is cheaper to buy computers here. ALEX: Well, you heard right. You can get an excellent deal on a new computer here. We have great discounts for students. SHERRY: I don't know much about computers. But I know I want a desktop computer with a lot of memory. And I need a printer. ALEX: Well, first let's consider your computer. Here, for example, is a system I highly recommend--the Power Macintosh G3. It comes with 64 megabytes of total memory. SHERRY: Is that a lot? Sixty-four? ALEX: Yes, it is. It should be enough for any student needs you might have. What department are you in? SHERRY: History. ALEX: Well, so you will mostly be using word processing, for writing papers. I recommend the Corel Word Perfect program for word processing. We can talk about software later. Let's talk about your hardware first. We have a special deal on right now. I should tell you about it, as it only goes until next Tuesday. If you buy one of these fifteen-inch color monitors with a Power Macintosh G3, you can actually get 30 percent off the usual sale price. SHERRY: Thirty percent? ALEX: Yes. SHERRY: Wow. That's really good. And you think this is really a good system for a graduate student? ALEX: Yes. It's an excellent system. SHERRY: Hmm. Hey, wait. This has an Apple on it. Is this an Apple computer? ALEX: Yes, it's a Macintosh. It's Apple. Macintosh and Apple are the same thing. SHERRY: I don't want Macintosh. I want PC. ALEX: I'm sorry, but our university computer center only sells Macintosh equipment. SHERRY: What? Are you serious? ALEX: Yes. SHERRY: But nobody uses Macintosh! ALEX: That's not true. Most of the students and professors in the university here use Macintosh. They find it is better for writing and word-processing, and that is what students mostly do. May I ask where you're from? SHERRY: Yes, I'm from Taiwan. ALEX: Well, I know that in most Asian countries Apple is not very popular. But here in America, especially in universities and publishing companies, Apple is very commonly used. SHERRY: But I need a computer that can handle writing in Chinese. ALEX: There are several Chinese writing programs you can use with Macintosh. Chinese is no problem for Apple. SHERRY: Hmm. I think I should ask some of my friends for advice before I make a decision. I'm sorry. ALEX: No, don't be sorry. It's reasonable to ask your friends. But believe me, most of the students here in the university-- Asian students included--most of them use Apple. SHERRY: Well, thanks for your advice. I will probably come back later. ALEX: You're very welcome. Here is my card, if you need any help. 亚历克斯:我可以帮你吗? 雪莉:是的,这学期我需要买一台电脑, 人家告诉我这里的电脑比较便宜。 亚历克斯:的确,你听到的是对的。 在这买新电脑你可以拿到很不错的价格, 我们给学生很大的折扣。 雪莉:我对电脑了解不多, 但是我知道我要一台有很大内存的桌上电脑,而且我还要一台打印机亚历克斯:好的,我们先考虑你要的电脑。 我极力推荐这儿的一套系统-麦金塔 G3。 它的总内存为六十四百万位元。 雪莉:那很多吗?六十四? 亚历克斯:是的,对任何学生的需求应该是足够了。 你是什么系的? 雪莉:历史系。 亚历克斯:好的,所以你会常用文字处理来写报告。 我推荐 Corel Word Perfect 程式来做文字处理。 我们待会再来谈软件,先谈硬件吧。 我们现在有特价, 我应该告诉你,因为只持续到星期二为止。 如果你购买这套有麦金塔 G3 的 15 寸彩色主机, 事实上就可以有平常售价的七折。 雪莉:七折? 亚历克斯:是的。 雪莉:哇,太好了。 你觉得对一个研究生而言,这是一个很好的系统吗? 亚历克斯:是的,它是很棒的系统。 雪莉:嗯。嘿,等等,这上面有个苹果记号,这是苹果电脑吗? 亚历克斯:是的,是麦金塔,也是苹果机。麦金塔和苹果机是一样的。 雪莉:我不想要麦金塔,我要个人电脑。 亚历克斯:很抱歉,但是大学的电脑中心只卖麦金塔设备。 雪莉:什么?说真的吗? 亚历克斯:是的。 雪莉:可是没有人用麦金塔。 亚历克斯:不会啊, 这所大学大部分的学生和教授都用麦金塔。 他们发现这套系统对写作和文字处理比较好, 而且大多数学生都在使用它。我可以问你从哪来的呢? 雪莉:我是台湾来的。 亚历克斯:我知道苹果电脑在亚洲大多数的国家并不是很流行。 但在美国这里,尤其是大学和出版社里, 使用苹果电脑是非常普遍的。 雪莉:但是我需要一台可以处理中文写作的电脑。 亚历克斯:有一些中文的写作程式可以在麦金塔上使用, 对苹果电脑而言,中文不是问题。 雪莉:嗯…… 我想在做决定前请教我一些朋友的建议。 很抱歉。 亚历克斯:不会,不需要抱歉。问你朋友是合理的, 但是相信我,这所大学大多数的学生─- 包括亚洲的学生,大部分都使用苹果电脑。 雪莉:好的,谢谢你的建议,我可能之后会再回来。 亚历克斯:非常欢迎。这是我的名片,如果你需要任何帮忙的话。
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