中国的电脑屏幕暗下来了，这并不是因为这个国家的网民关掉了电源。
Several dozen users of Microsoft’s XP operating system and its Office software took to the Internet today to say that their desktop backgrounds had begun turning black. The switch doesn’t render the computer unusable, but it undoes people’s efforts to personalize their computer screens with photos or designs. Many said they were able to restore their original desktops only to have their screens turn black again an hour later.
一些微软XP操作系统和Office软件的用户们今天上网说他们的桌面背景变成黑色的了。这种变换并不会使用户的电脑不能使用，只是让他们个性化电脑屏幕的图片或设计失效。一些用户说他们可以重新保存他们的原始桌面，只是一个小时候就会再度变黑。
The users have run into one of Microsoft Corp.’s latest anti-piracy efforts. Its Windows Genuine Advantage software, installed via recent online updates, determines whether the software on the computer is legitimate or pirated. Users will be treated with plain black desktop if their computers fail the validation process. Meanwhile, a persistent desktop notification will pop up at the right corner, warning that the user may be a victim of software counterfeiting.
这样的用户是撞上了微软公司最近反盗版的试验。它的WGA软件通过微软的在线更新来安装，识别了用户电脑上的软件是合法的还是盗版的。如果用户的电脑没有通过验证程序，就会遭遇一个纯黑的桌面。同时，右下角会持续的弹出一个通知，警告用户也许是盗版软件的受害者。
The company says that many of the press reports so far have misinterpreted the new measure. Background images can be returned. Users can purchase the software they’re using. And during the whole process, the user’s applications won’t be affected and information won’t get lost.
微软公司说目前一些媒体报道曲解了这项新措施。桌面背景图是可以恢复的。用户也可以购买他们正在使用的软件，在整个过程中，用户的应用不会受到影响，信息也不会丢失。
The software isn’t restricted to China, but with many users owning illegitimate copies it has created a stir online there. According to the stats from several popular online forums such as Tianya.com, more than 50 users were treated with black desktop about 10 minutes past midnight.
这个软件并不是只在中国运行，但是因为中国有为数众多的盗版，所以在中国引起了轩然大波。根据几个流行的在线论坛，比如天涯的统计，有50多个人在午夜过后十分钟左右遭遇了黑屏。
At issue, say users, is the price of a legitimate copy of Windows XP. Windows XP is sold at $199, which is over 1,400 yuan. The company says that it has already adjusted the policy to make the price more attractive to Chinese computer users. For instance, the Windows XP Home/Student Edition is sold at a promotion price of 199 yuan, and suggested price for Windows Vista Service Pack is 499 yuan. Still, the price is steep for many Chinese users who have vastly cheaper pirated versions available to them.
据用户反映，问题的重点是正版XP系统的价格。Windows XP售价199美元，折合人民币超过1400元。微软说他们已经调整了价格政策来吸引更多中国的电脑用户。比如，Window XP 家庭/学生版以199元的促销价卖出，Windows Vista建议价格是499元。但对于一些中国用户来说，他们可以用比这低得多的价钱买到盗版，所以他们仍然认为这个价格很高。
One survey on Sina.com showed that 86% out of 90,000 people participating say they “won’t consider a shift to genuine Windows because of the crackdown by Microsoft.”“We do not stand up for piracy, but against your company for not thinking how the users feel,” wrote blogger going by the name Ling Ge in an open letter to Microsoft.
在新浪网上的一项调查中，90000人中有86%表示他们“不会因为微软的打压换用正版。”一个博客作家Ling Ge在一封给微软的公开信中写道，“我们不支持盗版，但我们会抵制你们公司，因为你们不考虑用户的感受。”
Popular Web site Sohu.com said a Beijing-based lawyer, Dong Zhengwei, reported the case to the State Public Security Bureau, saying that Microsoft is infringing on the privacy of Chinese users.
据搜狐网报道，北京的律师董正伟向公安局举报称微软侵犯了中国用户的隐私。
Others had a bit of fun. Last night, drawn by media reports that black screens were imminent, hundreds crowded the discussion room in Douban.com, named “black screen countdown,” waiting for the blackout to come. “It’ll be so exciting to have a live broadcast when thousands of computers go black!” wrote a netizen from Guangzhou.
其他的就有点好玩了。昨晚是媒体报道的黑屏计划开始实行的日子，数百人聚集在豆瓣的一个叫做“黑屏倒计时”的帖子里，等待黑屏的来临。广州的一位网民说，“当数千台电脑变黑的时候做个现场直播是让人多么激动的事情啊。”
Some preset the system time on their computers to view the blackout, with help from online instructions. Some even made their own blackscreen wallpaper to make fun of Microsoft’s new anti-piracy measures. One read, “absolutely pirated edition/voluntarily black screened.”
一些人预先设定了电脑的系统时间，在在线说明的帮助下看黑屏。一些人甚至自制壁纸来讽刺微软反盗版的新举措。一张壁纸上写着，“绝对盗版/自觉黑屏。”
