learn to find your way round some basic
jargon and ask some crucial questions: It is possible to choose
randomly from a list, but you'd better find out some
information about computers,
get to know some basic computer terms and ask yourself some
important questions.
stick a pin in a
list:
choose anything
from a list at random
do research:
find information about
something that you are interested
in or need to know about
eg (l ) I'm doing some research for an
article about student life.
(2) I've done some research -- it looks
as if the train will be the fastest.
c f conduct (make, perform, carry out)
(a) research /researches on (the
subject of... ) /into (the causes of ,
eg cancer)
find one's way
round: get to know
eg (1) Finally they found their way
round the skills of operation of the machine.
(2) He's found his way round the tribe.
crucial: ad j. decisive; critical
eg (1) the crucial test/question
(2) at the crucial moment
4) What features do they find most
valuable: What characteristics do they think are most useful and important?
feature: characteristic or striking
part; one of the named parts of the
face; (pl) the face as a whole 特色，特征；面貌的一部分（口、鼻等）；（复）相貌，容貌，面貌
eg (1 ) the geographical features of a
district, eg mountains, lakes
(2) He is a man of handsome features.
5 ) This will make a difference to the
type of computer that will best suit your needs: The reason why you want to buy a
computer has an effect on the type of computer that you want to buy
and will be most suitable to you.
make a /some /no /much difference: be of
some/no/much importance
eg (1 ) Having a good teacher has made
all the difference for Alex.
(2) It won't make much difference
whether you go today or tomorrow.
(3) Does that make any difference to
you?
6 ) But if you want it for doing letters
and accounts, you will not need all the multimedia features: But if you need a
computer to write letters and keep accounts, it is not necessary for
you to buy a computer with multimedia functions.
multimedia: ad j. (only before noun )
using a mixture of sound, pictures, film and writing to give
information, especially with computers
7)... start from that
point -- but try
to think of future needs as well:...begin from the point of meeting your
specific needs -- but you also have to take future needs into consideration.
as well (as
sth /sb ): in addition,
besides
eg (1) We're going to the cinema
tonight, why don't you come along as well?
(2) He gave me advice, and money as
well.
(3) We shall travel by night as well as
by day.
8) For many
people this
jargon is part
of the real horror, but there is no getting away from the fact that computers
have to be described in this way, so take some time to-learn some
of the
basics: To many people this specialist language of computers is really
terrible, but you cannot escape from the fact that people have to talk
about computers in such language, so it is better to spend some time
learning some basic terms on computers.
there is no getting away: there is no
way to escape
eg I'm sorry I'm late. I was in a
meeting and there was no getting away from it.
9) When deciding what computer to buy,
the simplest and best advice is to
go for the biggest numbers you can
afford: When you decide which kind of computer to buy, we can give you the
simplest and best advice: if you have enough money, you'd better buy the
computer with the biggest numbers (highest amount of megabytes and
RAM).
go
for: choose or take
eg in a small garden go for dwarf
varieties to maximize space.
afford: have enough money or time to buy
or to do something
eg (1) Only bigger clubs can afford the
enormous fees that these players demand.
(2) We can't afford to go on vacation
this year.
(3) Helena doesn't feel she can afford
any more time away from work.
10) The higher the numbers, the faster
the computer can run and the more
information it can store: When you
choose a computer with bigger numbers (megabytes, RAM, etc), it can
operate faster and can store more information.
The more... the more: this structure is
used to say when you do something, a particular situation will
be the result of it.
eg (1) It's simple. The more preparation
you do now, the less nervous you'll be before the exam.
(2) The sooner you start, the faster
you'll be finished.
(3) The more people you know, the less
time you have to see them.
11) Both types give you access to a wide
range of software: Both the IBM compatible and the Mac give you
opportunities to use a variety of software.
both... and:
(of two things, persons,
etc) not only... but also
eg (1) Queen Anne is both dead and
buried.
(2) He is remarkable for both his
intelligence and his -skill.
(3) He is both a soldier and a poet.
either:
ad j. /
pron. one or the other
(of two) (of the use of any, or any one of ,
when the number is greater
than two)
eg (1) Take either half; they're
exactly the same.
(2) You must not favor either side in
the dispute.
(3) Trees are planted on either
side/both sides of the street.
neither: ad j.
/Pron. (used with a
single n. or pron. ) not one nor the other (of two)
eg (1) Neither (one) is satisfactory.
(2) I like neither of them.
(3) I can agree in neither case.
(4) In neither case can I agree.
12) Don't assume that if you are a
beginner you don't need much: Don't take it for granted that if you have
just started to learn computers you don't need a computer with high
specifications.
assume: think that something is true,
although you have no proof of it
eg (1) I didn't see your car, so I
assumed you'd gone out.
(2) Assuming that the proposal is
accepted, when are we going to get the money?
13 ) A higher specification computer can
cope with mistakes more easily, and
has more storage: A computer of more
advanced design can deal with mistakes more easily, and it can store
more information.
cope with: succeed in dealing with a
difficult problem
eg A family and a full-time job is a lot
to cope with.
14) A cheaper, low specification
computer may well need small adjustments to make certain things Possible: A
computer of lower price and less advanced design needs to be adjusted to
perform certain functions, so it's less convenient and more time-consuming.
may/might /could well do/be something:
used to say that something is likely to happen or is likely to be true
eg (1) What you say may well be true.
(2) You could try the drugstore, but it
may well be closed by now.
adjust: make small changes to something
to improve it
eg (1) The body adjusts itself to
changes in temperature.
(2) You can't see well through a
telescope unless it is adjusted correctly to your sight.
15) Specifications to bear in mind:
Detailed features to remember
specifications:
(usn. pl) any of the
parts of a detailed plan or set of descriptions or directions说明书；规格；（计算机）配置
bear in
mind: have in the heart or mind;
remember
eg (1) I'll bear it in mind.
( 2) You should bear in mind that I'll
come again someday.
16) How
powerful do you need it to be to perform the tasks-you need: How effective and efficient do you need your
computer to be to do the work you need?
perform: do
eg (1) The advice service performs a
useful function.
(2) The car performs badly in wet
weather.
(3) Our team performed very well on
Saturday.
(4) perform one's job做本职工作
(5) perform an experiment做实验
(6) perform calculations运算
(7) perform a heart operation实施心脏手术
(8) perform a marriage ceremony举行婚礼
(9) perform one's promise / duty履行诺言／职责
(10) perform a contract履行合同
(11) perform a command执行命令
(12) perform an exacting task完成艰巨的任务
(13) perform a miracle
创造奇迹
(14) perform a service to
向...提供服务
(15) perform one's obligations
履行义务
17) Buying from a retail shop is likely
to be the most accessible and least daunting option:
It is probably the easiest and least frightening choice to buy a computer from a retail shop.
accessible: ad j. easy to obtain or use
eg Storing customer details on computer
makes them readily accessible.
access:
n. right, opportunity or means
of reaching, using or approaching
eg (1 ) Students must have access to
good books.
(2) The house is in a central location
with good access to the shops.
daunting: ad j. frightening in a way
that makes you feel less confident
eg (1) It's a daunting task, but we're
optimistic.
(2) Have you ever thought of the
daunting prospect of asking for
a loan?
18) It means you can try the machine out
before you buy it: It means you
can test the machine before you buy it.
try
sth out: use and experiment in order
to test
eg (1) The idea seems good but it needs
to be tried out.
(2) Jamie could hardly wait to try out
his new bike.
19).. .and will have to negotiate the
specifications and terms over the phone:... and will have to discuss the
detailed features, price, aftersales services of the computer by
telephone
negotiate: discuss, confer, in order to
come to an agreement; bargain
eg (1 ) We've decided to negotiate with
the employers about our wage claims.
(2) We are ready for discussions but not
inclined to negotiate.
over: by means of
eg (1 ) I don't want to say it over the
telephone.
(2) I heard it over the radio.
20) You will also have to instal the
computer yourself: Also, you will have
to fix the computer yourself.
instal (BrE. install ): v. place, fix
(apparatus) in position for use
eg (1) The building installed a new
boiler.
(2) The electrician installed the new
fixtures.
21 ) Don't just be tempted by price:
Don't just let the low price attract you.
tempt: attract; persuade
eg (1) The warm weather tempted us to go
for a swim.
(2) She tempted the child to have a
little more soup.
(3) Nothing could tempt him to take such
a step.
22) Note that advice and
after-sales
service are not so readily available if you follow the mail order route: Notice that
if you buy a computer through mail order you may not easily get advice
and after-sales service.
available: ad j. (of something) that may
be obtained
eg (l) These tickets are available for
one month only.
(2) The book you ordered is not
available.
23)... beware
of going for"
cheap" deals overseas: take care not to buy
"cheap" computers from abroad
beware:
(in the imperative and
infinitive only) be on guard, take care (used to warn sb to be careful because
sb. is dangerous)
eg (1) Beware, sir, (of) what you do.
(2) Beware of dogs !
go
for: go to fetch or buy
eg (1) Shall I go for a doctor?
(2) Go for some milk !
24) All new computers should have a
manufacturer's warranty which covers breakdown or failure of the equipment:
All new computers should be guaranteed by the manufacturer that if
they fail to operate properly the manufacturer will fix them free of
charge.
cover: (of money) be enough for
eg (1) $100 will cover my needs for the
journey.
(2) $100 hardly covers one night at a
top hotel in Tokyo.
25)... but check this
out:... but make
sure that the warranty does last one year.
26) Check if there are real benefits in
taking on the retailer's rather than the manufacturer's warranty: Find out if
there are real advantages when you accept the retailer's rather than
the manufacturer's warranty.
take on: engage; (of some relation)
accept.
eg (1) Doctor Watson isn't taking on any
new patients.
(2) The company was taking on workmen.
27) You need to know how much it
costs...: You have to make clear how
much you will pay for the warranty...
28) It is likely that you will only be
able to do this at the time of buying the computer:
Probably you can only get a
clear answer to all these questions and decide what to do at the
time of buying the computer.
The pronoun "this" in this
sentence refers to the situation mentioned in the preceding sentences.
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