【新唐人2013年03月14日訊】 (美国之音電)
- 禮節美語242-early-adopters-2
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，一出甚麼新玩藝兒，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，常指科技類產品。不過，Mark發現，很多第一代，第二代產品都有很多 bugs, bugs在這裡指技術方面的漏洞。Henry承認，他新買的SuperCom4 is not quite up to snuff. 也不是樣樣都好， up to snuff 意思是符合標準，相當於 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，問題關鍵是，第一、二代產品時，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髦，家裏的東西都得用到過時。英語裡有一種說法叫：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。
