乔布斯传 第167期:盖茨与乔布斯(5)

 After a while the relationship became bumpier¹.

一段时间过后，苹果和微软之间的关系开始出现问题。

The original plan was to have some of the Microsoft applications—such as Excel, Chart, and File

双方最初的计划是将微软的一些应用程序，如Excel、Chart和File，

carry the Apple logo and come bundled with the purchase of a Macintosh.

打上苹果的商标，并且和麦金塔进行捆绑销售。

"We were going to get $10 per app, per machine," said Gates.

“每台电脑上的每个应用能给我们带来10美元的收入。”盖茨说道。

But this arrangement upset competing software makers².

但是这种方式令软件制造领域的竞争对手很不舒服，

In addition, it seemed that some of Microsoft's programs might be late.

此外，当时微软的一些软件程序可能会迟些才能完成。

So Jobs invoked³ a provision in his deal with Microsoft and decided⁴ not to bundle its software;

因此乔布斯援引合同中的某个条款，决定不预装微软的软件；

Microsoft would have to scramble⁵ to distribute its software as products sold directly to consumers.

这样，微软就得努力把自己的软件直接卖给消费者。

乔布斯传 比尔盖茨

Gates went along without much complaint.

盖茨对此并没有太多抱怨。

He was already getting used to the fact that, as he put it, Jobs could "play fast and loose,"

用他自己的话来说，乔布斯“反复无常”，自己已经习惯了这一点。

and he suspected that the unbundling would actually help Microsoft.

而盖茨当时也在猜想，或许这种分拆实际上对微软有好处。

"We could make more money selling our software separately," Gates said.

“如果单独销售软件，我们能赚更多，”盖茨表示，

"It works better that way if you're willing to think you're going to have reasonable market share."

“如果你愿意相信自己能获得不错的市场份额，那事情发展成这样反倒更好。”

Microsoft ended up making its software for various other platforms,

后来，微软把软件卖给了其他各种平台，

and it began to give priority to the IBM PC version of Microsoft Word rather than the Macintosh version.

并在开始为IBM个人电脑开发文字处理软件Word后，立即停止赶工麦金塔版的Word软件。

In the end, Jobs's decision to back out of the bundling deal hurt Apple more than it did Microsoft.

乔布斯退出捆绑销售的决定，最终让苹果比微软更受伤。

When Excel for the Macintosh was released,

麦金塔版本的Excel软件发布时，

Jobs and Gates unveiled it together at a press dinner at New York's Tavern⁶ on the Green.

乔布斯和盖茨共同在纽约绿苑酒廊餐厅参加媒体答谢晚宴。

Asked if Microsoft would make a version of it for IBM PCs,

当被问及微软是否会为个人电脑开发Excel软件时，

Gates did not reveal the bargain he had made with Jobs but merely answered that "in time" that might happen.

盖茨没有透露他和乔布斯的契约，只是说“以后”可能会。

Jobs took the microphone. "I'm sure 'in time' we'll all be dead," he joked.

乔布斯拿过麦克风，开玩笑地说，“我相信，'以后'我们都会死。”

1 bumpier   

adj.困难重重的( bumpy的比较级 )；崎岖的；（使） 处境艰难；气流不稳的

参考例句：

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 invoked   

v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求

参考例句：

• It is unlikely that libel laws will be invoked. 不大可能诉诸诽谤法。
• She had invoked the law in her own defence. 她援引法律为自己辩护。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

6 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。