Every year flying cars fail to take to the skies is a disappointment. But a recession at least forces companies to turn research dollars into revenues. Next year could be a bumper one for new products. Apple's tablet is one of the most keenly awaited. It aims to bridge the gap between a full laptop and a small handheld, solidifying its position as software maker of choice for mobile operating systems. At worst it will be a flop, shattering the air of invulnerability on which its lofty valuation – almost five times sales – rests.
每一年，天空中都未能出現飛翔的汽車，這真是令人失望。但一場經濟衰退，至少迫使企業將更多扔進研發的錢轉化成實實在在的收入。明年對於新產品而言，很可能將是一個豐收年。蘋果(Apple)的平板電腦(tablet)是人們最爲期待的產品之一。該產品旨在填補全尺寸筆記型電腦和小型掌上電腦之間的空白，從而鞏固其作爲移動設備首選軟體製造商的地位。而最糟糕的情況是，這個產品可能成爲一個敗筆，進而削弱蘋果看似無可動搖的地位。正是這種地位讓蘋果一直市值高企，幾乎達到銷售額的5倍。