ALEX: Can I help you?
SHERRY: Yes, I need to buy a computer for this semester¹.
I was told it is cheaper to buy computers here.
ALEX: Well, you heard right.
You can get an excellent deal on a new computer here.
We have great discounts for students.
SHERRY: I don't know much about computers.
But I know I want a desktop² computer with a lot of memory. And I need a printer.
ALEX: Well, first let's consider your computer.
Here, for example, is a system I highly³ recommend⁴--the Power Macintosh G3.
It comes with 64 megabytes of total memory.
SHERRY: Is that a lot? Sixty-four?
ALEX: Yes, it is. It should be enough for any student needs you might have.
What department are you in?
SHERRY: History.
ALEX: Well, so you will mostly be using word processing, for writing papers⁵.
I recommend the Corel Word Perfect program for word processing.
We can talk about software later. Let's talk about your hardware⁶ first.
We have a special deal on right now.
I should tell you about it, as it only goes until next Tuesday.
If you buy one of these fifteen-inch color monitors with a Power Macintosh G3,
you can actually get 30 percent off the usual sale price.
SHERRY: Thirty percent?
ALEX: Yes.
SHERRY: Wow. That's really good.
And you think this is really a good system for a graduate student?
ALEX: Yes. It's an excellent system.
SHERRY: Hmm. Hey, wait. This has an Apple on it. Is this an Apple computer?
ALEX: Yes, it's a Macintosh. It's Apple. Macintosh and Apple are the same thing.
SHERRY: I don't want Macintosh. I want PC.
ALEX: I'm sorry, but our university computer center only sells Macintosh equipment.
SHERRY: What? Are you serious?
ALEX: Yes.
SHERRY: But nobody uses Macintosh!
ALEX: That's not true.
Most of the students and professors in the university here use Macintosh.
They find it is better for writing and word-processing,
and that is what students mostly do. May I ask where you're from?
SHERRY: Yes, I'm from Taiwan.
ALEX: Well, I know that in most Asian countries Apple is not very popular.
But here in America, especially in universities and publishing companies,
Apple is very commonly used.
SHERRY: But I need a computer that can handle writing in Chinese.
ALEX: There are several Chinese writing programs you can use with Macintosh.
Chinese is no problem for Apple.
SHERRY: Hmm.
I think I should ask some of my friends for advice before I make a decision.
I'm sorry.
ALEX: No, don't be sorry. It's reasonable to ask your friends.
But believe me, most of the students here in the university--
Asian students included--most of them use Apple.
SHERRY: Well, thanks for your advice. I will probably come back later.
ALEX: You're very welcome. Here is my card, if you need any help.

亚历克斯：我可以帮你吗？
雪莉：是的，这学期我需要买一台电脑，
人家告诉我这里的电脑比较便宜。
亚历克斯：的确，你听到的是对的。
在这买新电脑你可以拿到很不错的价格，
我们给学生很大的折扣。
雪莉：我对电脑了解不多，
但是我知道我要一台有很大内存的桌上电脑，而且我还要一台打印机亚历克斯：好的，我们先考虑你要的电脑。
我极力推荐这儿的一套系统－麦金塔 G3。
它的总内存为六十四百万位元。
雪莉：那很多吗？六十四？
亚历克斯：是的，对任何学生的需求应该是足够了。
你是什么系的？
雪莉：历史系。
亚历克斯：好的，所以你会常用文字处理来写报告。
我推荐 Corel Word Perfect 程式来做文字处理。
我们待会再来谈软件，先谈硬件吧。
我们现在有特价，　
我应该告诉你，因为只持续到星期二为止。
如果你购买这套有麦金塔 G3 的 15 寸彩色主机，　
事实上就可以有平常售价的七折。　
雪莉：七折？
亚历克斯：是的。
雪莉：哇，太好了。
你觉得对一个研究生而言，这是一个很好的系统吗？
亚历克斯：是的，它是很棒的系统。
雪莉：嗯。嘿，等等，这上面有个苹果记号，这是苹果电脑吗？
亚历克斯：是的，是麦金塔，也是苹果机。麦金塔和苹果机是一样的。
雪莉：我不想要麦金塔，我要个人电脑。
亚历克斯：很抱歉，但是大学的电脑中心只卖麦金塔设备。
雪莉：什么？说真的吗？
亚历克斯：是的。
雪莉：可是没有人用麦金塔。
亚历克斯：不会啊，
这所大学大部分的学生和教授都用麦金塔。
他们发现这套系统对写作和文字处理比较好，
而且大多数学生都在使用它。我可以问你从哪来的呢？
雪莉：我是台湾来的。
亚历克斯：我知道苹果电脑在亚洲大多数的国家并不是很流行。
但在美国这里，尤其是大学和出版社里，
使用苹果电脑是非常普遍的。
雪莉：但是我需要一台可以处理中文写作的电脑。　
亚历克斯：有一些中文的写作程式可以在麦金塔上使用，
对苹果电脑而言，中文不是问题。　　　
雪莉：嗯……
我想在做决定前请教我一些朋友的建议。
很抱歉。
亚历克斯：不会，不需要抱歉。问你朋友是合理的，
但是相信我，这所大学大多数的学生─-
包括亚洲的学生，大部分都使用苹果电脑。
雪莉：好的，谢谢你的建议，我可能之后会再回来。
亚历克斯：非常欢迎。这是我的名片，如果你需要任何帮忙的话