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眼下微軟(Microsoft)和蘋果(Apple)兩家公司都已經推出了各自最新的作業系統：微軟的視窗7(Windows 7)和蘋果的雪豹(Snow Leopard)，這也意味著，我每年秋季撰寫電腦購買指南的時候到了。

Now that both Microsoft and Apple have finally shipped the new versions of their operating systems, Windows 7 and Snow Leopard, respectively, it's time for my annual fall computer-buying guide.

這份指南將重點放 在已日漸普及的筆記型電腦上，不過其中大部分的點評也適用於桌上型電腦。和從前一樣，指南針對的是那些進行一般任務操作──比如網頁流覽、電子郵件、社交 網路、文字處理、照片、視頻和音樂──的普通消費者，而不適用於那些商務、遊戲迷和媒體制作人，因為他們需要專業化或者是更為強大的硬體系統。

This guide stresses laptops, which have become the prevalent choice, but most of its specs also apply to desktops. As always, it is aimed at average consumers doing typical tasks, such as Web surfing, email, social networking, word processing, photos, video and music. It doesn't apply to businesses, hard-core gamers or serious media producers -- groups that need specialized or heftier hardware.

需要在今年秋季選購電腦的消費者有著多種多樣的選擇，這些電腦預裝有能夠提高運行速度和性能的最新的作業系統。不受歡迎的Vista作業系統也已不會在Windows電腦中露面了。

Consumers shopping for new computers this fall have a wide variety of choices with the new operating systems pre-installed, making the machines faster and better. Windows PCs are no longer burdened with the disliked Vista OS.

這是個好消息，而壞消息是Windows電腦硬體製造商以及零售商通常都會勸你花上更多的錢。這些人急於把消費者的注意力從那些廣受歡迎、但利潤不高的上網本引到那些體積更大的視窗7筆記本身上去，這樣一來，他們可以賺到更多的錢。而這種體積更大的電腦被冠上了各種各樣的名字，讓人搞不清局面。

That's the good news. The bad news is that the Windows hardware makers and retailers generally are trying to nudge you to spend more. They are anxious to guide consumers away from the popular, but low-profit, stripped-down netbooks to somewhat larger Windows 7 laptops from which they can make more money. This larger-size category goes by a variety of names, which can be confusing.

Windows vs. Mac：與那些安裝Vista系統的前輩們相比，視窗7的上市讓購買出自惠普(Hewlett-Packard)、戴爾(Dell)和其他品牌的電腦成為了更好的選擇。微軟已經基本彌補了和蘋果電腦Mac OS X作業系統之間的差距。此外，Windows電腦的價格通常要比Mac電腦低數百美元，而且可選擇的型號也更多。

Windows vs. Mac: The arrival of Windows 7 makes PCs from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and others much better choices than their Vista-equipped predecessors were. Microsoft has closed most of the gap with Apple's Mac OS X operating system. Also, Windows PCs are often priced hundreds of dollars lower than Macs, and offer many more choices.

不過，蘋果的硬體既時尚又耐用，而且，在我的測試中，Mac電腦的啟動時間通常要比Windows電腦更短。此外，蘋果的連鎖零售店還為消費者提供了更好的購物體驗以及更為強大的售後支持。

But Apple's hardware is stylish and sturdy, and, in my tests, Macs usually boot faster than Windows machines. Plus, Apple's chain of retail stores offers a better buying experience and strong post-purchase support.

另外，在我看來，蘋果的內置軟體也仍然有優勢。雪豹的運行速度快，而且表現穩定。蘋果電腦還擁有一整套優秀的內置程式，包括電子郵件、照片和視頻軟體。而微軟已在視窗7中去掉了此類程式。

Also, in my view, Apple's built-in software still has the edge. Snow Leopard is fast and reliable. And it comes with a full suite of excellent built-in programs, including email, photo and video software. Microsoft has stripped Windows 7 of such programs.

在某些型號的Windows電腦裡，一些製造商已經重新安裝上部分甚至是所有這些程式，不過我還是覺得蘋果機型要技高一籌。另外，蘋果電腦還有一個突出的優點：Mac不易受絕大部分病毒和間諜軟體的攻擊。

Some PC makers have restored some or all of these in certain models, although I consider Apple's counterparts better. Another huge plus: the Mac isn't susceptible to the vast majority of viruses and spyware.

成本：Windows電腦的價格正在逐漸爬高。花上不到500美元，你就可以買到一台Windows電腦，不過許多商店都在力推價格更昂貴的型號。而那些售價250美元的上網本則更為少有了。眼下，Windows電腦的價格通常在300至450美元之間。蘋果在很大程度上堅持相同的高定價策略，儘管他們升級了許多型號的配置。最便宜的蘋果Mac桌上型電腦，極簡主義的Mac mini售價為599美元。最便宜的Mac筆記本，新上市的MacBook，售價為999美元。蘋果電腦高端機型一般來說起價在1,199美元。

Cost: Prices on Windows PCs are creeping upward. You can buy a Windows PC for under $500, but many stores are pushing costlier models. And those $250 netbooks are much scarcer. Now, they typically run between $300 and $450. Apple has mostly stuck with its same, higher, prices, though it has boosted the specs on many models. The cheapest Mac desktop, the minimalist Mac mini, is $599. The cheapest Mac laptop, the new MacBook, is $999. The heart of Apple's line starts at $1,199.

新領域：Windows電腦製造商本季正在力推一款介於上網本和全尺寸筆記本之間的筆記型電腦。這種電腦有許多讓人摸不著頭腦的名字，比如“超薄”或者是“輕薄”，儘管它們在輕薄方面比起過去出品的某些筆記本來並沒什麼不同。這些電腦的售價通常在500到800美元之間，並配以13英寸的螢幕。

New category: Windows PC makers this season are pushing a category of laptop that is meant to fit between a netbook and a full-size laptop. It goes by a variety of confusing names, such as 'ultrathin' or 'thin and light,' though these models are often no thinner or lighter than some laptops of the past. They typically cost between $500 and $800, and often have 13-inch screens.

記憶體：所有Mac電腦的記憶體都至少有2GB，這足以運行雪豹系統。而主流的Windows電腦的記憶體至少為3GB。不過價格最便宜的Windows電腦記憶體通常要更小些。我建議選擇至少有2GB記憶體的電腦。

Memory: All Macs come with at least two gigabytes of memory, which is plenty for running Snow Leopard well. Mainstream Windows PCs have at least three gigabytes. But the cheapest Windows machines sometimes come with less. I recommend at least two gigabytes.

64位：Windows電腦長期以來基於所謂的32位元結構，不過如今許多型號使用了64位元結構。這樣一來，那些適合64位元電腦的軟體就能使用更大的記憶體，運行速度也變得更快。

64-bit: PCs have long been based on something called a 32-bit architecture, but many models now use a 64-bit architecture, allowing properly written software to use more memory and run faster.

如果條件允許，買台可能最終成為主流的64位元電腦，儘管某些軟體和附加硬體一開始可能不能相容。

If possible, buy a 64-bit computer, which is likely to dominate eventually, even though some software and add-on hardware may be incompatible at first.

圖形：新的作業系統允許軟體製造商通過將某些任務從中央處理器卸載到圖形晶片上加快任務的運行。因此，如果可能的話，買一個“離散”圖形處理器，這種處理器有自己的記憶體空間。否則的話，就找個共用系統記憶體的“整合”圖形晶片。

Graphics: The new operating systems allow software makers to speed up some tasks by offloading them from the main processor onto the graphics chip. So, if possible, get a 'discrete' graphics processor, which has its own memory. Otherwise, find a potent 'integrated' graphics chip, which shares your main memory.

處理器：主流圖形晶片電腦使用出自英特爾(Intel)或者其競爭對手AMD的雙核處理器。雙核處理器相當於把兩個大腦整合在一個晶片上。不過，許多低價的Windows電腦安裝的是運行速度較慢的處理器，比如適合執行簡單任務的英特爾Atom處理器。蘋果公司的電腦機型全部使用英特爾的雙核處理器，除去那些價格最高昂的桌上型電腦之外，它們配備的是四核晶片。

Processor: Mainstream Windows PCs sport fast, dual-core processors from Intel or its rival, AMD. These pack the equivalent of two brains onto one chip. But many lower-price Windows PCs have slower processors, such as the Intel Atom, which are best suited for light duty. Apple models all use Intel's dual-core processors, except for the highest-priced desktops, which come with quad-core chips.

硬碟：250GB的硬碟對於大多數電腦來說屬於最低配置。上網本至少應該具備160GB的硬碟。固態硬碟運行速度更快，耗電量也更少，不過你通常要為此增加上百美元的開銷。

Hard disks: A 250-gigabyte hard disk should be the minimum on most PCs. On a netbook, look for at least a 160-gigabyte disk. Solid-state disks are faster and use less battery power, but often add hundreds of dollars to the price tag.

觸控式螢幕：視窗7讓你能夠通過用手指觸控式螢幕幕操作電腦，有些電腦製造商還添加了自己的觸控式螢幕功能。不過這種功能只有在新型觸控式螢幕上才能完全體現出來，這也會增加購機成本。

Touch: Windows 7 lets you control the computer by touching the screen with your fingers, and some PC makers add their own touch-screen features. But this only works fully with newer types of touch screens, adding cost.

確保你購買的觸控式螢幕電腦有一個支持所有視窗7功能完整的多點觸屏。蘋果使用筆記本觸控板──這相當於它的新滑鼠──來作為多點觸屏來替代螢幕。

Make sure any touch-screen model you buy has a full multitouch screen that supports all Windows 7 gestures. Apple uses the laptop touch pad, or its new mouse, as the multitouch, finger-gesture mechanism, instead of the screen.

和我以往的建議一樣，記住要買你所需，別花冤枉錢。

As always, don't buy more machine than you need.

Walter S. Mossberg

（編者按：本文作者Walter S. Mossberg是《華爾街日報》科技欄目Personal Technology，Mossberg's Mailbox等欄目的專欄作家。這些欄目主要介紹一些最新的消費類科技產品和解決方案，並解答讀者提出的問題。）