波士顿(美联社)-- IBM公司希望通过一项新的努力来简化大型机的程序编制,以保持这些老机器的竞争力.Mainframes are sophisticated computers that for more than 40 years have handled complex functions such as bank transactions. They can cost more than $1 million each, but they retain a strong presence in companies that need extremely reliable and secure computing.
大型机是一种复杂精密的计算机，它在过去40年中被用来完成一些复杂的功能，比如银行交易等等。虽然这些大型机每台的价值都超过100万美元，但在一些要求极端的计算可靠性和安全性的公司，它们仍发挥着重要作用。
However, some of the machines' traditional tasks have been shifted to lower-cost computers in many corporate networks, leading rivals to denigrate the mainframe as a dinosaur.
然而在许多集成网络中，一些原本应是大型机的任务已改由低成本的计算机来完成了。这使得竞争者们将大型机看成是已灭绝的恐龙。
The market for mainframes and other high-end servers shrank from $19 billion in 2000 to below $12 billion last year, according to IDC research director Steve Josselyn.
IDC研究主任Steve Josselyn说，大型机及其它高端服务器市场从2000年的190亿美元缩减到了去年的120亿美元。
IBM retains the leading share of the field and reaps a significant bounty from the software and maintenance associated with mainframes. But sales of the machines themselves dropped 7.6 percent in 2005 and rebounded only 1.5 percent in the first half of this year.
IBM在该领域保持着第一名的份额，并从与大型机相关的软件和维护中获得了相当可观的收益。但大型机自身的销量在2005年减少了7.6%，在今年上半年也仅回升了1.5%。
Lately, IBM has tried to keep mainframes attractive by encouraging computing administrators to run open-source software and other lightweight programs on mainframes. And in April, Big Blue rolled out a starter-level mainframe that starts at $100,000 and is targeted at smaller companies.
前不久，IBM鼓励计算管理员们在大型机上采用开源软件及其它小型程序，以期维持大型机的吸引力。今年4月，Big Blue的入门级大型机投入量产，起价为10万美元，定位于规模较小的公司。
Now IBM is announcing an effort to simplify the operating system and programming language that run mainframes, which often take years for specialists to master.
IBM最近宣布，它将努力简化运行在大型机上的操作系统和编程语言。而在以往，专家们常常需要数年才能熟练掌握这些系统和语言。
The
company plans to spend $100 million over the next five years on the
project, which will aim to make running a mainframe much like
controlling any other kind of computer.
IBM计划在未来五年内为此项目投入1亿美元，目标是使大型机的运行更接近于操作其它类型的计算机。
That means mainframes will finally get more of the graphical interfaces and drag-and-drop controls that are standard on personal computers and servers today. The absence of such features is thought to hinder the recruitment of new mainframe engineers, who are in dire need. Because of the long history of the platform, many mainframe experts are nearing retirement.
也就是说，大型机将会和现有的个人电脑及服务器所标配的一样，具有更丰富的图形界面和拖放控制。这些特性的缺失，使得招聘新的大型机工程师很困难，而目前大型机工程师更是极其缺乏。由于平台过于古老，很多大型机专家都已几近退休。
The programming effort, along with IBM's continuing work to encourage mainframe training in university computer science programs, is designed to accelerate the growth of the mainframe, said Jim Stallings, general manager of IBM's mainframe line.
IBM大型机部门总经理Jim Stallings说，之所以进行该项程序编制，就是为了促进大型机的增长。另外，IBM也一直致力于将大型机培训纳入大学计算机科学课程中。
"It's not so much about protecting, it's about going after new customers and markets," he said.
“这并不是一种保护，而是为了适应新用户及市场的需求。”他说。