2006年NPR美国国家公共电台十一月-Microsoft to Work with Novell's Linux

And let's catch up on some other business news this morning, a couple of bitter business rivals have tried to become a little more compatible¹. Microsoft has reached an agreement that will allow its Windows Operating system, with which so many of us are familiar, to work with the open source Linux System used by its rival Novell. NPR's Laura Sydell reports this should make companies that use both systems happy.

Novell's Linux-based operating system and the Windows operating system don't communicate, at times that's made life rough for business customers, says Rob Enderlin, an analyst² with Enderlin Group. Supposing an employee is putting in data, and "the data you are entering, it doesn't seem to be going any place, and it might actually look like a system freeze to you, and might have nothing to do with what's going on in your desktop³, it has everything to do with what's going on on the servers. ”

The deal between Novell and Microsoft will open communication between the operating systems and should make the servers work more smoothly⁴.

You have two belief principles on both sides, coming to get in a Kumbaya Moment.

At a press conference in San Francisco where the two companies announced the agreement, there wasn't any singing. A pragmatic Microsoft Chief Steve Ballmer said it was a response to unhappy customers.

This is a set of agreements that really, I think will greatly enhance⁵ inter-operability between Linux and Windows and give customers greater flexibility⁶ in ways that they had certainly been asking.

And while software for the companies may now be in harmony, it's not all sweet music between Microsoft and Novell. The deal does not affect an anti-trust suit brought by Novell that's already cost Microsoft more than 500 million dollars.

Laura Sydell, NPR News, San Francisco.

1 compatible   

adj.兼容的；能和睦相处的，合得来的

参考例句：

• You should choose a roommate more compatible to your tastes.你应该挑个和你意气更相投的人同住一室。
• Health and hard work are compatible.健康与努力工作是一致的。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 desktop   

n.桌面管理系统程序；台式

参考例句：

• My computer is a desktop computer of excellent quality.我的计算机是品质卓越的台式计算机。
• Do you know which one is better,a laptop or a desktop?你知道哪一种更好，笔记本还是台式机？

4 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

5 enhance   

vt.提高（强度、力量、数量等），增加（进）

参考例句：

• BBC backing for the scheme will enhance its credibility.英国广播公司对这一计划的支持将提高其可信度。
• Good secretarial skills should enhance your chances of getting a job.出色的秘书工作技能会增加你找工作的机会。

6 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。