TONT 42753 硬件向下兼容性的小故事

错的不是我，错的是世界。

原文链接：https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20030828-00/?p=42753

Backwards compatibility applies not only to software. It also applies to hardware. And when hardware goes bad, the software usually takes the blame.

向下兼容不仅适用于软件，对硬件也适用。当硬件出问题时，则常常是由软件来背锅。

The HLT instruction tells the CPU to shut itself down until the next hardware interrupt. This is a big win on laptops since it reduces power consumption and thereby saves your lap from third-degree burns.

CPU有一个HLT指令，用来告诉CPU关掉自己，直至下一个硬件中断发生。这（在当时）对笔记本来说有很大的益处，可以降低其功耗，使你的膝上部分免于三级烫伤。

We (well, specifically, Jeff) had this implemented and working in Windows 95 but discovered to our dismay that there were many laptops (some from a major manufacturer) which would lock up unrecoverably if you issued a HLT instruction.

我们（更确切地说，是Jeff）将这个功能植入了Windows 95，但随后却垂头丧气地发现，当HLT指令下达时，有好多的笔记本（有些还是大牌子）就进入了无法恢复的死锁状态。

So we had to back it out.

所以我们只好又把这个功能去掉了。

Then the aftermarket HLT programs came out and people wrote, “Stupid Microsoft. Why did they leave this feature out of Windows.” I had to sit quietly while people accused Microsoft of being stupid and/or lazy and/or selfish.

后来又有些第三方应用实现了这个功能，用户们就开始抱怨，『微软这个傻×，这么好用的功能怎么不加到Windows里面去』。不管人们如何咒骂微软是傻×、懒蛋或自私，当时的我只能静坐聆听而无法做出回应。

But now the statute of limitations has expired so at least I can say something (though I’m still not going to name that major manufacturer, nice try).

不过现在已经过了当初的限制期，所以我可以对这事发表点评论了（然而那几个出问题的笔记本的牌子我还是不会说的，别想了）。

My favorite bad hardware, though, was a system which would crash if the video card was put in an expansion slot too far away from the power supply. Manufacturers will do anything to save a nickel.

类似这样的情况（译注：类似上文HLT指令这样、由于硬件厂商的设计缺陷导致软件出现问题的情况）我最喜欢的一个例子是，某系列的机器里如果显卡安装得离电源太远，机器就会崩溃（译注：大概是供电不足导致，众所周知显卡是用电大户）。厂商们为了节约每一分成本，什么都干得出来。

And yet Windows 95 ran on almost all of this bad hardware. Why did we go to all this effort to accomodate bad hardware? Consider:

然而Windows 95还是得在这些残次品硬件上运行，为什么我们要下大力气容忍这些硬件呢？考虑一下这些问题：

• You have a computer that works okay. 你有一台电脑。原本工作的好好的。
• You go to the store and buy Windows 95. 你去商店里买了一份Windows 95。
• You take it home and install it. 你把Windows 95拿回家装在自己的机器上。
• Your computer crashes. 机器崩了。

Whom do you blame? Hint: Not your computer manufacturer.

现在你想怪罪谁呢？提示：大抵不会是制造这台机器的厂家。

I have more hardware stories, but I have a meeting soon so I’ll have to stop here for today.

我还有更多跟硬件相关的小故事，但等下就要开会了，所以今天先到这。