2006年NPR美国国家公共电台八月-New Chips Lead to Lower Computer Prices

The price(s) of some personal computers are likely to drop, following drastic cuts this week on some Intel and AMD microprocessors¹. At the same time Intel unveiled a new line of processors that are much faster than with their previous chips. NPR's Wendy Kaufman reports.

The intense rivalry² between Intel and Advanced Micro Devices heated up this week. Intel which has the lion's share of the market has been losing ground to AMD, because AMD had better technology. But yesterday Intel launched a new processor, which it calls the Core 2 Duo. Analysts³ including Rob Enderle say the new chip is a winner for Intel and puts the company clearly ahead in technology.

"This is their biggest launch since their Pentium launch in the early 90s. This is showcasing a near 40% increase in performance from their previous generation which is about 2x the most you typically get chip to chip."

With the brand new chip on the market, Intel is cutting the price of older generation chips, in some cases, by 50 percent or more. AMD has cut its prices too, to remain competitive.

"What that means when you are going out to shop basically, is you are going to see a lot of really great deals."

Anush Yegyazarian is a senior editor at PC World. She says if you don't want the top of the line, you will soon be able to get a very good PC, for a very good price.

"Obviously, the overall price is going to depend on more than the processor. But basically, you know you're gonna be able to get five to eight-hundred-dollar computers that do a heckle of a lot.

She says they'll do just about everything, most of us do. But serious gamers for instance, might opt⁴ for PCs with the new chip. While Intel has moved ahead of AMD with its latest chip; AMD hopes to leapfrog over Intel later this year, with something called a four by four platform. Intel will respond with yet another new chip. While today's best chips have essentially⁵ two brains; the new chips from both companies will have four.

Wendy Kaufman NPR News.

【WORLD BANK】
the lion's share (of something)
the largest part of something
The firm has captured the lion's share of the UK market.
leapfrog
to suddenly become better, more advanced etc than people or organizations that were previously⁶ better than you
The company leapfrogged its rivals into a leading position.

1 microprocessors   

微（信息）处理机( microprocessor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This sort of work would have been inconceivable before the advent of microprocessors. 在微处理机问世之前这种工作是难以想象的。
• In microprocessors, the name used for the IEEE interface bus standard. 微处理机中，IEEE接口总线标准的名字。

2 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 opt   

vi.选择，决定做某事

参考例句：

• They opt for more holiday instead of more pay.他们选择了延长假期而不是增加工资。
• Will individual schools be given the right to opt out of the local school authority?各个学校可能有权选择退出地方教育局吗？

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。