VOA标准英语2010年-Fanfare Greets Global Debut of iPad

Technophiles mobbed Apple stores in Europe and Asia on Friday to snatch the hottest gadget¹ of the day - the iPad.  Apple has sold more than a million of the small tablet computers since its U.S. launch last month, forcing the company to delay its international debut².  As Mil Arcega reports, eager European fans waited in long lines to get their hands on the trendy device.

Long lines snaked outside Apple stores from London to Tokyo as eager buyers vied to be the first to take home the hot new gadget.

At one Apple store in central London, staff chanted and cheered as they counted the seconds to the official launch.

First in line - a student from Essex - who says he waited a long time for this moment. "Now it's all over, I'm so happy," he said

Apple officially launched the iPad in the U.S. in April. But the US-based company was forced to delay its worldwide debut due to high demand at home.

But self-described nerd Kenta Asata, said the wait was worth it. "I can't say anything. I'm happy, I'm happy, I'm the happiest in my life," he said.

The iPad, essentially³ a larger version of Apple's iPhone, can be used to send emails, watch movies or play games.  It's also seen as a potential game changer for the struggling newspaper and magazine publishing industry, because of its built-in electronic reader.

In Rome, where some in line were greeted with espressos and juggling⁴ clowns, a man who identified himself as Vincenzo, said he was looking for an all-purpose computer. "I think I need it to do all the things it can do, like book reading, and to replace my computer during trips abroad," he said.

Equally excited fans greeted the launch from Hong Kong to Frankfurt, where some arrived as early as 3 am to be first in line.

British comedian⁵ and broadcaster Stephen Fry described the launch as part hype, part cultural event. "I know some people will regard that as peculiar⁶ for a digital device but it is, it's more like an album launch or a film premiere because the device is not just something for nerds, it has a cultural meaning too," he said.

Despite a weak economy, buyers seemed eager to spend anywhere between $600 to $1,000 for a little Apple culture.

Some European stores reported selling out their stock of iPads in under three hours.
 

1 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

2 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

3 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

4 juggling   

n. 欺骗, 杂耍(=jugglery) adj. 欺骗的, 欺诈的 动词juggle的现在分词

参考例句：

• He was charged with some dishonest juggling with the accounts. 他被指控用欺骗手段窜改账目。
• The accountant went to prison for juggling his firm's accounts. 会计因涂改公司的帐目而入狱。

5 comedian   

n.喜剧演员；滑稽演员

参考例句：

• The comedian tickled the crowd with his jokes.喜剧演员的笑话把人们逗乐了。
• The comedian enjoyed great popularity during the 30's.那位喜剧演员在三十年代非常走红。

6 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。