The Holy Grail of mobile computing is a portable device that has the power of a desktop computer， lasts more than a day on a single battery charge， and weighs next to nothing.
"圣盤"是一種便攜式電腦，它的能力如同一臺(tái)臺(tái)式電腦，電池充電一次可用一天多，而且重量很輕。
Right now， such a computer is still a myth.
可是，現(xiàn)在這樣的電腦還只是個(gè)神話。
But computer makers are pushing the limits of weight and power.
但電腦制造者正在突破電腦重量和能力的極限。
Today's so-called ultralight computers， which retail from about $1，800 to more than $3，000， are less than an inch thick， weigh less than three pounds， and have the computing power of a typical year-old desktop.
現(xiàn)在，這種所謂超輕電腦零售價(jià)大約在1800到3000多美元，該電腦的厚度不到一英寸，重量不到3磅，其計(jì)算能力相當(dāng)于一年前一臺(tái)普通的臺(tái)式電腦。
Yet many of the smallest， lightest computers are studded with tradeoffs. They， for example， won't last more than a few hours on a single battery， don't come with built-in CD or DVD drives， and have less powerful processors than "normal" PCs.
然而，許多最小的最輕的電腦都是權(quán)衡利弊后的組合。例如，它們一次充電電池的使用不能超過幾個(gè)小時(shí)，不能匹配內(nèi)置的CD或DVD驅(qū)動(dòng)裝置，處理器的能力低于"正常"電腦。
"Right now， people do see that you have to compromise to get to the form factor，" that is， the ideal size and weight， says Michael Abary， senior product marketing manager for Sony's Vaio line of notebook PCs. "But we're making plans to offset them [the compromises]."
負(fù)責(zé)Sony筆記本電腦Vaio線產(chǎn)品營銷資深經(jīng)理Michael Abary說："現(xiàn)在，人們看到電腦制造商不得不折衷設(shè)計(jì)方案，才能達(dá)到理想的大小和重量。但是我們正計(jì)劃去彌補(bǔ)因折衷而造成的不足。
One of the most promising new technologies to help achieve that goal is a new breed of low-powered microprocessors that can vary the speeds at which they operate.
有助于達(dá)到這一目標(biāo)的最有希望的新技術(shù)之一就是制造新型的低功率微處理器，該處理器在運(yùn)行中可以改變速度。
During complex computing tasks - such as crunching a large amount of numerical data in a spreadsheet - the processors might run at their top rate， or "clock speed." But for less demanding tasks - running a word processor or playing music， for instance - the chip can slow way down.
在執(zhí)行復(fù)雜的計(jì)算任務(wù)，如連續(xù)處理大批的數(shù)字?jǐn)?shù)據(jù)時(shí)，這種處理器以極高的速度，即"時(shí)鐘脈沖速度"運(yùn)行。但是在執(zhí)行要求較低的任務(wù)，如運(yùn)行一個(gè)文字處理器或放音樂時(shí)，該芯片能減速。
The chief advantage of these processors， including Intel's Mobile Pentium III-M and Transmeta Corp.'s Crusoe， is the power they save. At slow speeds， for example， they typically require less than 1 watt， which means a computer's rechargeable batteries will last much longer between charges.
包括英特爾的便攜式奔騰3-M和Transmeta公司的Crusoe在內(nèi)的這些處理器的主要優(yōu)點(diǎn)是節(jié)省功率。例如，在慢速時(shí)，它們一般只需不到1瓦特功率，這意味著該計(jì)算機(jī)的可充電電池在兩次充電之間使用時(shí)間更長。
Meanwhile， labs are testing new battery technologies.
與此同時(shí)，實(shí)驗(yàn)室正在試驗(yàn)新的電池技術(shù)。
For now， most rechargeable batteries， made of lithium， provide portable computers about four or five hours before they need to be recharged. But research into different， lighter materials - such as zinc combined with air - could produce batteries with greater "energy densities." If more power can be packed into less space， portable computers can be made even lighter than the current crop of ultralights.
現(xiàn)在，大多數(shù)可充電電池是由鋰制作的，它能為便攜式電腦提供大約4或5小時(shí)電源，然后才需要再充電。如果研制出不同的、更輕的如鋅與空氣結(jié)合的材料，就能生產(chǎn)具有更大"能量密度"的電池。如果能在更小空間中儲(chǔ)存更大功率，便攜式電腦就能造得比現(xiàn)在任何超輕電腦還要輕。
"Unfortunately， unlike a lot of electronic technology which sees a doubling in capabilities every 18 months， battery technology growth is only linear，" says Tom Bernhard， director of product marketing for Fujitsu. By Bernhard's estimates， really interesting developments won't happen for another three to five years.
Fujitsu公司產(chǎn)品營銷主任Tom Bernhard說："遺憾的是與每18個(gè)月能力就增長一倍的許多電子技術(shù)不一樣，電池技術(shù)發(fā)展只是線性的。"據(jù)Bernhard推測(cè)，真正有趣的電池技術(shù)的發(fā)展在未來3至5年內(nèi)不會(huì)出現(xiàn)。
While they wait for the battery improvements， computer makers are touting a new type of portable computer called the tablet PC， which they hope to offer for sale by next year. Compaq， NEC and Toshiba all showed off models at this week's Comdex computer trade show in Las Vegas.
就在大家等待著電池有所改進(jìn)時(shí)，電腦制造商已推出一款叫平板個(gè)人電腦的便攜式電腦，他們希望來年投放市場。康柏、全國電信公司和東芝都在本周拉斯維加斯開幕的Comdex電腦交易會(huì)上都展示了該機(jī)模型。
These computers - typically the size and shape of an 1.5-inch-thick stack of typing paper - feature a screen that users can "write" on using a plastic stylus. The software， a special version of Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system， can interpret those pen strokes. And， instead of using a computer mouse to click on icons， users will merely tap on the screen to access the Internet or start programs.
這種電腦—— 一般只相當(dāng)于1.5英寸打印紙的大小和形狀——有一個(gè)用戶可用塑料筆"寫"的視屏。內(nèi)置的軟件是微軟新版視窗XP的一種特殊版，它可以翻譯筆寫的內(nèi)容。使用者不再使用鼠標(biāo)去點(diǎn)擊圖標(biāo)，僅僅靠觸摸視屏就可以上網(wǎng)或啟動(dòng)程序。
Ted Clark， vice president for Compaq's Tablet PC， says such pen-based computers will have all the power， memory and features of an ordinary notebook computer.
康柏平板個(gè)人電腦的副總裁Ted Clark說，這種筆寫式電腦具有普通筆記本電腦的運(yùn)算能力、記憶和特征。
Such snazzy portables may not be as cheap as ordinary notebooks， however. Early tablet PCs were priced well above $3，000 because of expensive parts such as the touch-sensitive screen.
然而，這樣時(shí)新的便攜式電腦可能不如普通筆記本電腦便宜。因?yàn)橄裼|敏視屏這樣一些部件價(jià)格十分昂貴，最初平板電腦的售價(jià)遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過3000美元。
"圣盤"是一種便攜式電腦，它的能力如同一臺(tái)臺(tái)式電腦，電池充電一次可用一天多，而且重量很輕。
Right now， such a computer is still a myth.
可是，現(xiàn)在這樣的電腦還只是個(gè)神話。
But computer makers are pushing the limits of weight and power.
但電腦制造者正在突破電腦重量和能力的極限。
Today's so-called ultralight computers， which retail from about $1，800 to more than $3，000， are less than an inch thick， weigh less than three pounds， and have the computing power of a typical year-old desktop.
現(xiàn)在，這種所謂超輕電腦零售價(jià)大約在1800到3000多美元，該電腦的厚度不到一英寸，重量不到3磅，其計(jì)算能力相當(dāng)于一年前一臺(tái)普通的臺(tái)式電腦。
Yet many of the smallest， lightest computers are studded with tradeoffs. They， for example， won't last more than a few hours on a single battery， don't come with built-in CD or DVD drives， and have less powerful processors than "normal" PCs.
然而，許多最小的最輕的電腦都是權(quán)衡利弊后的組合。例如，它們一次充電電池的使用不能超過幾個(gè)小時(shí)，不能匹配內(nèi)置的CD或DVD驅(qū)動(dòng)裝置，處理器的能力低于"正常"電腦。
"Right now， people do see that you have to compromise to get to the form factor，" that is， the ideal size and weight， says Michael Abary， senior product marketing manager for Sony's Vaio line of notebook PCs. "But we're making plans to offset them [the compromises]."
負(fù)責(zé)Sony筆記本電腦Vaio線產(chǎn)品營銷資深經(jīng)理Michael Abary說："現(xiàn)在，人們看到電腦制造商不得不折衷設(shè)計(jì)方案，才能達(dá)到理想的大小和重量。但是我們正計(jì)劃去彌補(bǔ)因折衷而造成的不足。
One of the most promising new technologies to help achieve that goal is a new breed of low-powered microprocessors that can vary the speeds at which they operate.
有助于達(dá)到這一目標(biāo)的最有希望的新技術(shù)之一就是制造新型的低功率微處理器，該處理器在運(yùn)行中可以改變速度。
During complex computing tasks - such as crunching a large amount of numerical data in a spreadsheet - the processors might run at their top rate， or "clock speed." But for less demanding tasks - running a word processor or playing music， for instance - the chip can slow way down.
在執(zhí)行復(fù)雜的計(jì)算任務(wù)，如連續(xù)處理大批的數(shù)字?jǐn)?shù)據(jù)時(shí)，這種處理器以極高的速度，即"時(shí)鐘脈沖速度"運(yùn)行。但是在執(zhí)行要求較低的任務(wù)，如運(yùn)行一個(gè)文字處理器或放音樂時(shí)，該芯片能減速。
The chief advantage of these processors， including Intel's Mobile Pentium III-M and Transmeta Corp.'s Crusoe， is the power they save. At slow speeds， for example， they typically require less than 1 watt， which means a computer's rechargeable batteries will last much longer between charges.
包括英特爾的便攜式奔騰3-M和Transmeta公司的Crusoe在內(nèi)的這些處理器的主要優(yōu)點(diǎn)是節(jié)省功率。例如，在慢速時(shí)，它們一般只需不到1瓦特功率，這意味著該計(jì)算機(jī)的可充電電池在兩次充電之間使用時(shí)間更長。
Meanwhile， labs are testing new battery technologies.
與此同時(shí)，實(shí)驗(yàn)室正在試驗(yàn)新的電池技術(shù)。
For now， most rechargeable batteries， made of lithium， provide portable computers about four or five hours before they need to be recharged. But research into different， lighter materials - such as zinc combined with air - could produce batteries with greater "energy densities." If more power can be packed into less space， portable computers can be made even lighter than the current crop of ultralights.
現(xiàn)在，大多數(shù)可充電電池是由鋰制作的，它能為便攜式電腦提供大約4或5小時(shí)電源，然后才需要再充電。如果研制出不同的、更輕的如鋅與空氣結(jié)合的材料，就能生產(chǎn)具有更大"能量密度"的電池。如果能在更小空間中儲(chǔ)存更大功率，便攜式電腦就能造得比現(xiàn)在任何超輕電腦還要輕。
"Unfortunately， unlike a lot of electronic technology which sees a doubling in capabilities every 18 months， battery technology growth is only linear，" says Tom Bernhard， director of product marketing for Fujitsu. By Bernhard's estimates， really interesting developments won't happen for another three to five years.
Fujitsu公司產(chǎn)品營銷主任Tom Bernhard說："遺憾的是與每18個(gè)月能力就增長一倍的許多電子技術(shù)不一樣，電池技術(shù)發(fā)展只是線性的。"據(jù)Bernhard推測(cè)，真正有趣的電池技術(shù)的發(fā)展在未來3至5年內(nèi)不會(huì)出現(xiàn)。
While they wait for the battery improvements， computer makers are touting a new type of portable computer called the tablet PC， which they hope to offer for sale by next year. Compaq， NEC and Toshiba all showed off models at this week's Comdex computer trade show in Las Vegas.
就在大家等待著電池有所改進(jìn)時(shí)，電腦制造商已推出一款叫平板個(gè)人電腦的便攜式電腦，他們希望來年投放市場。康柏、全國電信公司和東芝都在本周拉斯維加斯開幕的Comdex電腦交易會(huì)上都展示了該機(jī)模型。
These computers - typically the size and shape of an 1.5-inch-thick stack of typing paper - feature a screen that users can "write" on using a plastic stylus. The software， a special version of Microsoft's new Windows XP operating system， can interpret those pen strokes. And， instead of using a computer mouse to click on icons， users will merely tap on the screen to access the Internet or start programs.
這種電腦—— 一般只相當(dāng)于1.5英寸打印紙的大小和形狀——有一個(gè)用戶可用塑料筆"寫"的視屏。內(nèi)置的軟件是微軟新版視窗XP的一種特殊版，它可以翻譯筆寫的內(nèi)容。使用者不再使用鼠標(biāo)去點(diǎn)擊圖標(biāo)，僅僅靠觸摸視屏就可以上網(wǎng)或啟動(dòng)程序。
Ted Clark， vice president for Compaq's Tablet PC， says such pen-based computers will have all the power， memory and features of an ordinary notebook computer.
康柏平板個(gè)人電腦的副總裁Ted Clark說，這種筆寫式電腦具有普通筆記本電腦的運(yùn)算能力、記憶和特征。
Such snazzy portables may not be as cheap as ordinary notebooks， however. Early tablet PCs were priced well above $3，000 because of expensive parts such as the touch-sensitive screen.
然而，這樣時(shí)新的便攜式電腦可能不如普通筆記本電腦便宜。因?yàn)橄裼|敏視屏這樣一些部件價(jià)格十分昂貴，最初平板電腦的售價(jià)遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過3000美元。