节目资讯
刊物:生活知识家
日期:2009-08-31
难易度:High
关键字:portable, jump into, navigate, catch off guard, na
Hi, everyone.
Welcome back from the break.
We’re not talking about notebooks.
We’re talking about netbooks.
Netbooks are giving new meaning to computing on the go.
It’s interesting that the computer industry didn’t think netbooks would be
popular,
but they were and they continue to be an inexpensive alternative to pricier
laptops.
Let me highlight a few more key words you need to know for this half of the
lesson.
The first is navigate, as in:
I had trouble learning to navigate between the personal and business settings on
my cell phone.
Finally, we are introduced to the idiom:
catch off guard.
The fashion industry was caught off guard by the new, young designer.
OK.
Netbooks created a revolution,
but they’re still in the evolution process.
Let’s learn more about that on line sixteen.
The Netbook Revolution.
Through it all, the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve.
Newer versions include an Eee PC tablet that allows users to navigate by means
of a touch screen.
Also out is the Eee PC keyboard,
a computer in a keyboard that connects to any LCD monitor or big-screen TV.
In many ways, the Eee PC caught the PC industry off guard.
The product does many of the things people use computers for, at a much cheaper
price.
Though there will always be a market for ”full” computers, the Ee PC taught the
PC industry a valuable lesson:
Sometimes the basics are all we need.
Welcome back.
We’ve been talking about the Eee PC and the netbook revolution.
And before the break, we had a brief history of how this became popular,
and how many companies now, many major PC manufacturers are jumping into this
still growing netbook market.
But through it all, the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve.
Now before we go any further, we need to go visit Liz and get some Grammar on
the Go.
Hello, friends.
How are you today?
My name is Liz.
And it’s time for Grammar on the Go.
Our article today is about the netbook revolution and how it all started with
ASUSTech computer introducing the Eee PC in 2007.
ASUSTech computer is based in Taipei,
which is why I’m here in Taipei.
Anyhow, let’s go ahead and take a look at today’s grammar tip sentence.
Through it all, the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve.
Notice the phrase at the beginning of the sentence:
through it all.
It’s an expansion that means ”from the beginning until now or until the end” or
”through everything.”.
Use this expression when you want to show how a situation is the way it is or
how it has turned out the way it has through a process.
For example, let’s say Sam had a tough summer job working at a grocery store,
but he learned a lot about teamwork that summer.
So we can say:
Even though Sam’s job at the grocery store ws a tough one, through it all, he
learned a lot about teamwork.
Or let’s say a scientist worked hard on his research and never thought of giving
up.
So we can say:
Even though the research was hard, through it all, the scientist has never
thought of giving up.
Well, that’s all the time we have for today.
Thanks for joining me here.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go signing off in Taipei.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Liz.
So through it all or through all these years and all these different changes,
the Eee PC has continued to evolve and improve.
It’s continuing to become even better.
In fact, newer versions include the Eee PC tablet that allows users to navigate
by means of a touch screen.
Now Chip, help us explain what this means.
First talk about the word:
navigate.
OK.
Well, if you navigate a place, that means that you are finding out how to move
around in that place.
Or you can also navigate a device or you can navigate something,
which means that you are controlling something, controlling the movement of
maybe a ship, if you’re navigating a ship on the ocean.
But here we’re navigating uh, by means of a touch screen. So we’re navigating
around a computer.
So what does that mean, Rachel?
Well, a touch screen just means you’re using your own fingers, right? To touch
what you need to... to use.
And you don’t need to use a computer mouse or anything.
You’re navigating your way by using a touch screen, just by using your
fingertip.
So also out now is the Eee PC keyboard,
a computer in a keyboard that connects to any LCD monitor or big screen TV.
This is amazing.
It’s a computer in a keyboard.
That’s really fancy and it’s different because usually we think about having a
screen and a separate keyboard.
But this is together.
It’s a keyboard and you can connect it; you can plug it into an LCD monitor or
any big screen TV.
Yeah. And I can see there being a real value in that, um, because you know,...
if it’s only a screen that’s that big,
I think sometimes I would want a screen that’s a little bigger.
So these have that option.
You can plug it into a much larger screen.
And I can see if you’re working with other people or in a meeting, that could be
really useful as well,
because not everybody can gather around a tiny little screen,
but they could look at a big screen TV.
Well, in many ways, the Eee PC caught the PC industry off guard.
Now this is a great idiom to learn. If you catch somebody off guard,
well, then they are not prepared; they’re surprised.
And the PC industry was not prepared for uh, somebody to come up with this kind
of a little notebook.
Right.
You get their attention and imagination.
In fact, for many of these companies, they totally did not expect the Eee PC to
be on the market.
So that’s why they all followed and tried to copy Asus when they first came out
with the Eee PC.
So this simple little computer caught the whole personal computer industry off
guard.
It took it without it being ready.
And this product does many of the things that people use computers for, at a
much cheaper price.
Now that... and that really is probably the big key.
Yes, that is a key to their success.
So though there will always be a market for ”full” computers, the Eee PC taught
the PC industry a valuable lesson:
Sometimes the basics are all we need.
And I guess, Esther, we could say this is a basic computer but it’s all some
people need and all some people want.
Right.
Sometimes the basics are all we need.
The same applies to life too.
Well, let’s watch today’s skit.
It’s a revolution.
It has redefined mobile computing.
Young man, what are you laughing about?
I caught the PC industry off guard.
Oh, really?
And how did you do that?
I introduced this... this, this Eee PC netbook.
It looks like a cheap laptop.
What’s so good about that?
It’s affordable and portable and it handles simple tasks:
writing, web surfing and e-mail.
I think it lacks features and power.
Nobody will buy it.
Well, don’t be a naysayer.
This Eee sold more than 300,000 in the first few months.
Well, that’s unbelievable!
It’s very popular.
And many PC manufacturers have jumped into the netbook market.
Hmm. I... I guess it is pretty nice.
And it’s still evolving.
You can navigate newer versions by touch screen.
Oh, I like that.
Or and get a computer in a keyboard and connect it to your TV.
Oh really?
A simple computer that does the basics.
At an affordable price.
Well, thank you, young man.
I have learned a valuable lesson.
Yeah.
Uh, uh, before you go, um...
Yes?
I want my computer back.
Oh, yes.
Hi, everyone.
I’m Michelle.
(Chinese).
And I guess that’s all the time we have for today.
See you next time.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Michelle.
Those tips were always very helpful.
Well everyone, if you are in the market for a portable computer for surfing the
web and writing e-mails,
maybe you should consider buying a netbook.
It could revolutionize your life.
So tomorrow begins a new month,
and I’m looking forward to talking about two brothers in our August PROFILE
feature.
They are the Harris brothers and they too have the ability to revolutionize your
life.
Find out how they could do it tomorrow.
Right now it’s time to say goodbye.
So that’s what I’ll say.
Goodbye, everybody, and have a great day.
We’ll see you all next month.
(Music).