黑，灰，白：網路設備變形史

The metamorphosis of network equipment (boxes) can be characterized by 3 phases: black, gray, and white.
網路設備之變形，可劃分為黑灰白三階段。

In the beginning, an inscrutable black box emerged out of ether. It copied itself and talked only among themselves. It was the best time for engineers.
混沌初開的時候，一只黑色的盒子生於乙太，無人知其所自。它自我滋生，繁衍其類，自說自話。這是工程師最好的時代。

Then came a gray box, which traded idiosyncrasy for public relation. Others followed suit and there were more than enough gray levels in too many gray areas. It was the best time for marketing managers.
後來出現一只灰色盒子，它放棄了遺世獨立的特質，用以換取公共關係。別的灰色盒子群起效尤，使得到處是灰色地帶，充斥過多吹毛求疵的灰階。這是行銷經理最好的時代。

But, as connectivity puts unrelenting pressure on uniformity, a white box inevitably took the stage, washing away all the gray. The white exchanged its soul for ubiquity. It is the best time for commodity managers.
然而，大量的網路連結迫使大家趨向一致。終於，一只白色的盒子命定般站上舞台，淘汰了所有灰色的盒子。它賣掉了靈魂，以便無所不在。這是物料經理最好的時代。