Dial-up describes an old way of sending information from one computer to another over a telephone line. The computer used a modem and literally rang a number, the way you used to dial a phone.

Dial-up dial-up describes描述的是 an old way of sending information一種傳送資料的舊方法 from one computer to another從一台電腦到另一台 over a telephone line透過電話線 the computer電腦 used a modem用數據機 and而且 literally rang a number真的撥了一個號碼 the way you used to dial a phone就像以前撥電話一樣

While it was connected, that same line often could not be used for a voice call; it was slow, and it made a loud screeching sound.

While it was connected在連線的時候 that same line同一條線 often could not be used常常沒辦法用 for a voice call來打語音電話 it was slow速度很慢 and而且 it made a loud screeching sound會發出很大的刺耳聲

This was ordinary home internet in the 1990s and early 2000s. Broadband — a line that stays on — replaced it.

This was ordinary home internet這是普通的家用網路 in the 1990s and early 2000s在1990年代和2000年代初 broadband寬頻 a line that stays on一條一直保持連線的線路 replaced it取代了它

People still say “dial-up” as a joke when the internet feels painfully slow, even when no phone is being dialled. You will see it as an adjective (a dial-up modem, a dial-up connection) and as a noun (we were still on dial-up).

People人們 still say仍然會說 'dial-up'「dial-up」 as a joke當作一種玩笑話 when the internet feels painfully slow當網路慢得要命的時候 even when即使 no phone is being dialled沒有任何電話正在被撥打 you will see it你會看到它 as an adjective當形容詞用 a dial-up modem, a dial-up connectiona dial-up modem、a dial-up connection and as a noun也當名詞用 we were still on dial-upwe were still on dial-up