Worldwide computer sales to double by 2010: Microsoft chief  
盖茨：全球计算机销量2010年前将增加一倍

Thu Mar 18, 3:35 PM ET  
 

(中文大意)

　　微软董事会主席比尔-盖茨(Bill Gates)表示，随着微芯片在消费者日常生活当中扮演日益重要的角色，2010年前全球计算机销量将增加一倍，达到20亿台。盖茨称，计算机现在如此普及，以致于使用电脑将向打开电灯一样成为人们生活当中的一个常见现象。他说：“到目前为止，计算机行业已经制造和在全球范围内销售了10亿台个人电脑。这前10亿台电脑大多是标准的计算机，带有显示器、鼠标以及硬盘。”

　　但盖茨说，后10亿台将要销售的电脑则大为不同。计算机几乎可以不带电源就满足电量需求，内存巨大，显示屏为平面或可折叠，而且还能够满足高保真音效、互联网接入、家庭影院以及其他个人用户需求。盖茨表示：“使用电脑将成为如此轻松和简单的一件事情，以致于我们将认为用电脑是再司空见惯不过的了。”


BERLIN (AFP) - Worldwide computer sales will double between now and 2010 to reach two billion as the micro-chip assumes an increasing role in daily life, Microsoft boss Bill Gates (news - web sites) told a German newspaper. 

As the world's largest high-tech fair, the CeBIT, opens in the German city of Hanover, Gates wrote in an article for the mass-selling Bild tabloid that computer use would become as routine as switching on a light.

"Up to now the computer industry has produced and sold a billion personal computers worldwide. Add to that another billion by 2010," he wrote, in words translated into German.

The first billion were standard computers, with a screen, mouse, keyboard and hard drive, he added.

But the second billion would be radically different: computers capable of meeting their electricity needs literally out of thin air, with huge memories and flat or foldable screens yet able to provide a complete hi-fi, Internet, cinema, business and personal use system.

"Using computers will become so simple and everyday that we'll hardly even notice we're doing it any more," added the world's richest man, who has built his fortune on developing and selling computer technology.