2014年不宜购买的十种商品

　　4. DVD and Blu-ray players

　　4. DVD和蓝光播放器

　　DVD sales and rentals are down, so it's not a surprise that fewer consumers are buying DVD players. Sales of DVD and Blu-ray players totaled 21.3 million in 2012, down 20.1% from a year prior and down 24.8% from 2010, according to research firm SNL Kagan.

　　DVD的销售和租赁都在走下坡路，因此，购买DVD播放器的消费者减少也并不让人意外。研究公司SNL Kagan 的数据显示，2012年DVD和蓝光播放器销量总计2,130万台，较上年和2010年分别减少20.1%和24.8%。

　　Instead, experts say, consumers are increasingly streaming movies from Internet-based subscription services like Hulu and Netflix. Gamers can also use their consoles, such as the Xbox One and PlayStation4, to watch DVDs.

　　专家们表示，越来越多的消费者通过Hulu和Netflix等基于互联网的订阅服务串流电影。游戏玩家还能用Xbox One和PlayStation4等游戏主机来看DVD。

　　5. Hotel rooms

　　5. 酒店客房

　　As more travelers book vacations, demand for hotels is rising and so are room rates. The daily rate at U.S. hotels averages $110.59 this year, up 4.1% from 2012 and up 12.6% from 2010, according to professional-services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The average price is expected to rise to $115.68 in 2014.

　　随着预订度假游的游客人数的增加，对酒店的需求随之增加，房价也水涨船高。专业服务公司普华永道(PricewaterhouseCoopers)的数据显示，2013年美国酒店日均房价为110.59美元，较2012年和2010年分别上涨4.1%和12.6%。预计2014年平均房价将涨至115.68美元。

　　There's another, cheaper alternative: Travelers can reserve apartments or homes in their destinations at a lower price with more space to boot. Several services, such as Airbnb and Vacation Rentals by Owner, allow consumers to choose from an assortment of homes to stay in. Some owners also offer free airport pickups and drop-offs.

　　还有另一种比较便宜的选择方案：旅行者可以预订目的地的公寓或住宅，这些地方价格较低，而且空间较大。Airbnb和Vacation Rentals by Owner等几项服务允许消费者从各种各样的住宅中选择合适的入住。一些房主还提供免费的机场接送服务。

　　It can also be more helpful and cost-effective for large groups that are traveling together (you can book a large home with many bedrooms) or families with young children who require privacy and can cook in the home rather than paying to eat out. The downside, however, is less security than what hotels offer.

　　在多人一起旅行(可以订一个有许多卧室的大房子)或者家庭携幼童出行、需要隐私的情况下，入住这些地方更好，也更省钱，你可以在住宅内做饭，而不用花钱外出就餐。但不足之处是，这些地方不如酒店安全。

　　6. Two-year phone contracts

　　6. 两年期手机合约

　　Consumers are encountering more setbacks than benefits with two-year cellphone contracts. There's no way to change phones within this period of time without incurring a fee. And there's the fine print many of these plans come with that result in consumers paying more than the starting monthly price they're quoted in the store.

　　两年期手机合约对用户来说是弊大于利。在该期限内如果想换手机，必须要交纳一定费用。此外，这类计划有许多会附带细则，导致用户支付的费用比店内标出的初始月费高。

　　Mobile users have several alternatives. They can opt for no-contract providers that sell the phones at full price (that's more than the upfront price they'll pay for a phone with a contract) but monthly payments are much lower (often half). They're available through MetroPCS as well as big-box retailers like Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Most regular wireless providers also offer this option.

　　移动用户有几种其他选择。他们可以选择不签协议的运营商，这些运营商以全价(高于合约机的前期价格)出售手机，但月费要低得多(通常为合约机的一半)。这些手机可通过MetroPCS以及百思买(Best Buy)和沃尔玛(Wal-Mart)等仓储式零售商来购买。多数普通无线运营商也提供这一选择。

　　7. Desktop and laptop computers

　　7. 台式机和笔记本电脑

　　There's little reason to buy a desktop or laptop computer anymore. Tablets perform the same functions - playing music, sharing photos, Web surfing - that most consumers use PCs for and they're made to use while on the go. They can also be a lot cheaper. For instance, Apple's iMac's start at $1,299 and MacBook laptops start at $999 while iPads start at $299.

　　如今已经几乎没有什么购买台式机或笔记本电脑的必要了。多数用户使用个人电脑时所需的功能(播放音乐、分享照片、上网)平板电脑都有，而且平板电脑更适合旅行时使用。平板电脑的价格也便宜得多。例如，苹果(Apple) iMac的售价为1,299美元起，Macbook笔记本电脑售价为999美元起，而iPad则为299美元起。

　　Of course, ditching desktop PCs isn't for everyone: Graphic designers and traders, for instance, who require large screens will find it hard to part with traditional computers.

　　当然，放弃台式机并不适合每一个人：比方说，平面设计师和交易员需要大屏幕，他们会很难放弃传统电脑。

　　But data shows that PCs are starting to fall out of favor: Worldwide shipments fell 4% in 2012 from a year prior - to the lowest level since 2009, according to the latest data from IDC, an information-technology research firm.

　　但数据显示，人们已开始对个人电脑失去兴趣：信息技术研究公司国际数据公司(IDC)的最新数据显示，2012年全球个人电脑发货量较上年下降4%――触及2009年以来的最低水平。

　　8. Extra legroom in economy

　　8. 经济舱的额外腿部空间

　　Over the past few years it's become common practice for airlines, including American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, to charge many passengers extra - up to an additional $180 - for roomier seats (read: extra three to six inches of legroom) in coach. These seats are often in the exit rows or first row in economy.

　　在过去几年里，包括美国航空(American Airlines)和达美航空(Delta Air Lines)在内的航空公司会向许多经济舱乘客收取额外费用(最高为180美元)，为他们提供比较宽敞的座位(也就是三到六英寸的额外腿部空间)，这已经成为一种常见的做法。这些座位通常位于出口排或经济舱第一排。

　　But for a similar payment of $100 to $200, travelers can get upgraded to business class where the seats are much more comfortable and the service is of a higher caliber. These upgrades used to be reserved for airlines' frequent fliers, but many now give them out to passengers who are willing to pay a bit more when they check in or at the gate.

　　但乘客只要花上差不多的价钱(100到200美元)就能升到商务舱，商务舱的座位要舒服得多，服务质量也更高。这些升舱服务以往只有航空公司常旅客才能享受，但许多航空公司现在向所有愿意在办理登机手续或登机时多付一些钱的乘客提供这些服务。