LapTOP sales have been tanking as tablets surge. The new Windows 8 is off to a slow start with users. And the hybrid machines that claim to work as both tablets and lapTOPs are still niche products. So whats a lapTOP maker to do?伴随平板电脑销售量的暴涨，笔记本的销售量不断遭受冲击。用户对Microsoft新操作系统Windows 8的反应平淡。而声称可以同时用作平板与笔记本的混合机型仍然是小众。在这样的情况下，笔记本厂家该如何做？Well, most Windows lapTOP companies are promising to spend this year driving prices down, while continuing to experiment with better hybrid designs. But not Toshiba. The venerable Japanese firm has decided to go upscale, introducing an all-new brand of conventional 13-inch lapTOPs that are positioned as premium products, with prices starting at $1,600.大部分Windows笔记本厂家都承诺会在今年把价格降下来，同时继续探索更好的混合机型设计。但东芝却没这么做。这家老牌日本厂家决定走高档路线，他们推出了一个定位顶级的13英寸笔记本全新产品牌，价格自1,600USD起。That over-$1,000 market has long been the territory of Apple. But Toshiba figures it can offer buyers with deep pockets the Windows equivalent of Apples popular and much-praised MacBook Air, with premium materials, strong specs and a good warranty. Its called the Kirabook, part of a new Toshiba brand called Kira.长期以来，1,000USD以上价位的笔记本市场都是苹果的天下。但东芝却相信，凭着着顶级的材质、强大的性能与好的品质，他们可以为那些财力雄厚的买家提供一款Windows笔记本，它可以与苹果叫好又叫座的Macbook Air相提并论。这就是东芝新产品Kirabook，是东芝主打新产品牌Kira中的一员。Ive been testing a Kirabook for the past five days and I found it to be a good computer whose strongest feature is a brilliant, high-resolution screen. Its a speedy and reliable machine thats thin and light without feeling cheap.过去五天，我一直在测试Kirabook。我觉得这是一款出色的电脑，其最突出的特质就是那块亮丽的好看的显示屏。Kirabook是一款运行流畅、性能靠谱的轻薄笔记本，完全没便宜感。But I consider it overpriced for what it offers. It actually cosplayts more than a MacBook Air, but with much worse battery life, an older processor and a design that looks like a lot of other grayish, metallic lapTOPs.但我还是感觉，相对于性能来讲，这款商品定价过高。Kirabook实质价格比Macbook Air还高，但电池续航性能却差不少，而且配备的是上一代处置器，设计上也和很多灰色金属材质的笔记本比较相像。There are three models. The TOP one, which cosplayts $2,000, is distinguished mainly by its use of a very fast processor that average consumers wont need. The other two models are identical, except the entry-level offering, at $1,600, has a standard, non-touch screen. The middle model, at $1,800, which I tested, has a touch screen.Kirabook有三种配置。最高配的价格2,000USD，主要差别就是配备了一款很飞速的处置器，但通常买家却并无需。其他两款差不多，只不过价格1,600USD的基础知识款机型配备的是标准的非触摸屏。而我所测试的中端配置有触摸屏，价格1800USD。The MacBook Air also has a non-touch screen, but thats because its operating system, Mac OS X Mountain Lion, isnt designed for touch screens. By contrast, Windows 8 is a touch-centric operating system, and I dont recommend consumers buying Windows 8 computers to opt for non-touch screens. So the least expensive Kirabook that works optimally with its operating system cosplayts $1,800.Macbook Book用的也是非触摸屏，但这是由于其操作系统Mac OS X山狮并非为触摸屏而设计的。相比之下，Windows 8是以触控为核心的操作系统，我不主张买家购买Windows 8电脑时选择非触摸屏。所以，用优化操作系统的Kirabook，最实惠的也要1,800USD。How do those prices compare with Apples, which have traditionally been higher than those of most Windows PCs?这个价格如何去和苹果电脑相比？苹果电脑一直都比大部分Windows PC高档。Well, the base $1,600 Kirabook with the non-touch screen includes a generous 8 gigabytes of memory and a 256 GB solid-state drive. The base 13-inch MacBook Air, whose price was cut $100 just Monday, cosplayts $1,099. But when configured with the same amount of memory and solid-state storage, it cosplayts $1,399, still about $200 less than the non-touch Kirabook and $400 less than the touch-screen model.价格1,600USD的最低配Kirabook用是非触摸屏，内存8GB，256GB固态硬盘。而13寸最低配Macbook Air上周一刚刚降价100USD，现价1,099USD。但假如要达到与Kirabook相同的内存与硬盘配置的话，Macbook Air价格需要1,399USD，仍然比非触摸屏的Kirabook低200USD，比触摸屏版Kirabook低400USD。The two machines each weigh a hair under 3 pounds and are roughly 0.7-inch thick, though the Toshiba is a bit thicker. It also has a smaller footprint. The Kirabook has a magnesium alloy body that Toshiba claims is 100% stronger than the aluminum used for the body of the Air.这两款笔记本重量都略低于3磅，厚度在0.7英寸左右，但东芝那款要略厚一些。Kirabook的面积稍小，东芝表示，这款商品机身用的镁合金材质要比Air所用的铝合金坚固一倍。The Kirabooks biggest advantage is its hi-res screen. It is almost as sharp as the one on Apples higher-end 13-inch lapTOP, the MacBook Pro with Retina display. That MacBook starts at $1,499 and is $1,699 when configured with the same memory and storage as the Kirabook. The Kirabooks screen resolution is so high that text can get uncomfortably small. I was forced to use a built-in Toshiba utility to actually lower the resolution a bit for this reason.Kirabook最大的优势是那块好看的显示屏，几乎和苹果更高档的13寸带Retina显示屏的笔记本Macbook Pro一样锐利，后者与Kirabook内存和硬盘相同配置的价格是1,699USD。 Kirabook显示屏的分辨率这样之高，以至于显示的文字太小时，会看着不舒服。因此我不能不通过东芝内置的工具，把分辨率实质减少一些。The Kirabook has three USB ports to the Airs two, and Toshiba throws in a two-year warranty, while Apples standard warranty is just one year. The Kirabook also has an HDMI port, for easy connection to a TV, which the Apple lacks.Kirabook有三个USB接口，而Air只有两个。东芝提供了两年保修，而苹果一般的保修期限只有一年。Kirabook还有个HDMI接口，便捷连接到电视上，这是苹果所没的。In addition to its high price, the biggest downsides of the Kirabook are Windows 8, whose two very different user interfaces can be confusing; mediocre battery life; and the fact it uses older processors. By contrast, as of Monday, the MacBook Air uses the latest Intel processors, just out, which promise huge increases in battery life and better graphics. The Kirabooks arent due to be upgraded to these new chips till the fourth quarter.除去价格高，Kirabook最大的劣势是Windows 8；这个操作系统有两个完全不一样的用户界面，让人感到困惑。Kirabook的电池续航时间也非常平庸，还配备了较老款的处置器。相比之下，上周一刚发布的新款Macbook Air用的是最新英特尔处置器，据称可以显著提升电池巡航时间和提供更好的图形处置能力。而在第四季度之前，Kirabook都不会更新到英特尔的新芯片。These new processors and battery life are closely linked. Apple claimed this week that, with the new chips, the 13-inch MacBook Air can get up to 12 hours of battery life between charges. That isnt a typo. 这类新处置器和电池续航时间有着紧密关联。苹果本周表示，配备新处置器的13寸Macbook Air一次充电可以提供至多12小时的电池续航时间。对，你没看错。（请关注新版Air的测评。）However, even with the same, older Intel chips, the MacBook Air handily beat the Kirabook in battery life. In my tough battery test, where I turn off power-saving features, keep the Wi-Fi on to collect email and play music until the battery dies, the Kirabook lasted four hours and 27 minutes. The MacBook Air rates over six hours on the same test.不过即使是配备较老的英特尔处置器，Macbook Air也可以在电池续航时间上轻松压倒Kirabook。在我严格的电池测试中，即关闭省电设置，维持Wi-Fi连接以同意邮件，持续播放音乐，直至电池耗尽，Kirabook只能坚持4小时27分钟，而Macbook Air在相同测试下的电池表现超越了6个小时。Overall, the Toshiba Kirabook is a very nicely built PC, but for its premium price, it ought to have the latest components, more distinctive design and better battery life.总的来讲，东芝Kirabook是一款很出色的PC，但考虑到其高昂价格，这款笔记本就应该拥有最新的部件、更别致的设计、更强劲的电池续航时间。
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