Week 3

New Generation of Laptops Spell Trouble for PCs: 2013 - 6 - 3

Original Manuscript

    From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report. 

     Competition in the world of personal computers is fierce. Computer makers are working on new ways to persuade people to buy PCs. The advertising campaigns could be seen earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

    Mike Fard is a marketing representative at Intel; his company manufactures Semi-conductor chips for computers.

    "This year it's all about touch, we have touch computers based on Windows 8 running the Intel processors, but even more exciting than just touch, is the ultra-book convertible. What that means is that you have a standard laptop that converts into a tablet and we have multiple designs that feature this capability."

   Yet, sales of personal computers are slow. Recently, research company IDC reported that worldwide sales of PCs dropped 14 percent in the first three month of 2013. The company said this was the worst drop since it started collecting information in 1994. 

     In April, Intel said its earnings fell 2.5 percent to 12.6 billion dollars, compared to earnings last year. Intel's net income dropped 25 percent to 2 billion dollars.

    One possible reason for the slow sales is the rise of tablet computers, such as Apple's iPad and other mobile devices. Intel and its competitors have sought to work their way out of their sale's trouble by offering new products. These include ultra-book, a thin light weight notebook computer which came out in 2011. But the inventions have yet to increase sales. 

      Industry experts are also concerned about reaction to Microsoft windows 8 operating system, it was released last October. 

      Bob O'Donnell, an IDC vice president said the Windows 8 launch not only failed to increase PC sales, but seemed to have slowed the market. He blamed Microsoft for developing a program with what he calls "radical changes", he has criticized the company for removing the start button from the operating system.

     Without reacting to the criticisms, Windows Corporate vice president Julie Larson-Green announced this month that Microsoft will release a Windows 8 update. She expects the first public preview on the update to take place in June. 

       Intel has said it wants to be more influential in the manufacture of chips for mobile devices. Its chips began appearing in smart phones for the first time about a year ago. But critics say Intel's latest technology called "Ivy Bridge" is far behind that of the competition. The company believes this will change with its new mobile chip design which is set for release later this year. 

     And that's the Technology Report, I'm June Simms.

New Generation of Laptops Spell Trouble for PCs: 2013 - 6 - 3

Listening Skill

     As people have unlimited needs, they always invent new innovative things that support their needs. For instance, innovative electronics, technology and the others include PCs, Tablets, Laptops, etc. Consumers want to buy them to support their demands. In this section, I would like to talk about competition of personal computers all the world being fierce. Computer makers try to find new ways to persuade people to buy PCs. At the present, computer are developed to be more modern and easier to use than old PCs. From this reason, the producers of Computer Company have to face with problems. 

     A big problem is worldwide sales of PCs dropped 14 percent in the first three month of 2013.  Mile Fard is a marketing representative at Intel; his company manufactures Semi-conductor chips for computers. He says this year there are touch computers based on Window 8 for running the Intel process. It means standard computers convert into a tablet. In addition, sales of PCs (personal computers) may be slow and it may effect with sales. The company said this was the worst drop since it started collecting information in 1994. Important reason why sales of PCs drop are rising of tablets computer, including Apple's iPad and other mobile devices.

    

     Competitors try to find ways out of their sales problem by offering new products. They include ultra-book being thin light weight notebook than computer which came out in 2011. However, they still have not increase sales. In addition, Bob O'Donnell, an IDC vice president said the Windows 8 failed to increase PC sales; it seemed to be slow the market. He called Microsoft for developing is "radical changes." Windows Corporate vice president Julie Larson-Green announced this month that Microsoft will release a Windows 8 update. She expects public will preview on the update on June firstly. Intel has said that there are more influential in production of chips for mobiles devices. It began appearing in smart phones for the first time one year ago.

       Briefly, innovative things invented by many experts are good for consumers. Computers are important factor for users because they use them for connecting with their friends including on business, education, marketing, economics and the others. Although Computer Company have low sales than year ago, needs of consumers still increase. When there is developing innovative computers, chips for mobile or other things appropriated with consumers’ demand, each of company can get higher sales than before. In my opinion, I think they should increase higher quality of products than new products based on quantity. What do you think about this passage? Why? How?

New Generation of Laptops Spell Trouble for PCs: 2013 - 6 - 3
Vocabularies

 


  

  

Vocabularies

  

  

Pronunciation

  

  

Meaning

 

  

  

Fierce (adj.)

  

  

/fɪrs/

  

  

 บ้าระห่ำ

 showing strong feelings or a lot of activity, often in a way that is violent
Ex:
Competition from abroad became fiercer in the 1990s.


 

  

  

Campaign (n)

  

  

/kæmˈpeɪn/

  

  

 รณรงค์

 a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial, or political aim

Ex: a campaign against ageism
in the workplace



 

  

  

Radical (adj)

  

  

/ˈrædɪkl/

  

  

สุดขีด

concerning the most basic and important parts of something; thorough and complete

Ex: the need for radical changes in education is in next year.  

 

  

  

Influential (adj.)

  

/ˌɪnfluˈɛnʃl/ 

  

  

มีผลกระทบ

having a lot of influence on
someone or something

Ex: She is one of the most
influential figures in local politics.  

 

  

  

Release (n)

  

/rɪˈlis/ 

  

  

 การยกเว้น การสละสิทธิ์


 the act of setting a person or
an animal free; the state of being set free

Ex: The government has been
working to secure the release of the hostages

  

 




New Generation of Laptops Spell Trouble for PCs. Assess information                      from: http://voa.52en.com/voa-se-html/20136/voa/20136/voa20136                4192708. html (On June, 2013).