Walkman, at 30, a mystery to teen
Alejandro Martinez-Cabrera
What better way to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Sony's iconic Walkman than to ask a teenager for some feedback on the device?
The BBC couldn't think of one, and neither can I.
I like to imagine that the experience was similar to an archaeologist rediscovering how a recently excavated artifact was employed thousands of years ago. But I'm well aware that it must have been different for 13-year-old Scott Campbell, who co-edits his own news Web site. For one, teenage impatience must have stood in the place where I fantasize scientific curiosity should have been.
"My dad had told me it was the iPod of its day," Campbell wrote. "He had told me it was big, but I hadn't realized he meant that big. It was the size of a small book."
Sure enough, people on the street noticed the antique clinging from his belt with amusement and friends on his school bus were quick to come up with some witty remark.
Campbell went on to criticize the portable cassette player's size, appearance, functionality and the "hissy backtrack and odd warbly noises."
Even when he discovered the cassette had more music on the other side (it took him three days), Campbell was still disappointed it could only hold a small fraction of what an iPod can.
"Did my dad ... really ever think this was a credible piece of technology?"
Ouch.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/01/BU2618GKE7.D...
Azzedine Alaia
Matthew Williamson
Hugo Boss
This makes me feel old. I suppose in a era where seven year olds have their own ipods, cell phones and Nintendo Ds's that a walkman would seem primitive.
1I didn't buy a walkman until 2000 and after that I never moved on to Ipods. Some one bought me an Ipod-Nano for my birthday 2yrs ago and I asked them if I could exchange it for something I'd use, lol. I love music but I prefer to read on my commute.
2"Did my dad ... really ever think this was a credible piece of technology?"
Oh man, I'm ancient.
3Um, without the walkman, Im sure there would be no iPod. So show some respect, kid.
4Oh my. I had a Walkman. Heck, if I look through my closet at my parents' house I'm sure I could find the thing. Happy Birthday Walkman... there wouldn't be ANY MP3 players without you.
5I saw someone on the metro last night with a Discman. It was an odd occurance.
6*occurrence
That was some atrocious spelling on my part.
7I feel old. "It was the size of a small book." Really, that's big? It's smaller than a radio.
8I have never used a Walkman; by the time I had my own music device, it was the Sony Discman (I still have the other model I bought in '99
.) Love these tech flashbacks.
Funny how when these devices first launch, they are/seem extremely advanced then in just a matter of years, when there is something newer, you realize how much the other device lacked. Now I sometimes wonder how I managed without access to mp3's,lol.
9I still use the television that my parents bought back in 1980. It was on the leading edge when it came out, because it was cable ready.
10I think I am one of the only persons in the world to not have a flat-screen television. We have never had to buy one because people always dump their old ones on us. We've got some very archaic sets!
11I don't have a flat screen, amy. I get my parent's discards so my TVs are a decade old. They still work just fine!
12remember when having more than one tv meant you were daddy warbucks rich? now everyone has them in every room it seems
13I actually do need a new one for my bedroom since every once in a while it emits a loud screeching noise. Kind of a rude awakening if you fall asleep with the TV on. So low on the list of priorities now though.
14I don't have a flat screen either. Hey all TVs show the same shows.
15Back in my day, I had to carry the television 5-miles to and from (uphill both ways!) (insert location here ___________________) just in order to watch it!
16I don't have a flat screen either. My TV is soooo heavy too. It's awful. Then I have a tiny little 15" in my bedroom that gets a snowy picture on lowers channels. But I'm gonna use it until it blows up.
17I think the kid sounds like a twit - he's so savvy he couldn't figure out the reverse switch or to flip the tape?
18I see people with tape and disc players all the time here in LA.
That's what I was thinking, Stephley. How smart could he be?
19On the flip side, I've never owned a walkman. I had a cd/tape player, but not portable.
I remember how pysched I was when I got a walkman WITH the radio feature on it for my birthday! I thought I was sooo cool!
I too don't have a flat screen, I am a gadget kinda gal though so I have a fairly new iPod and hubby gets the hand me downs.
20Hypno - If you don't have an iPod what do you listen to while you work out??
21I have an ipod, but I hardly ever use it. I watch tv while I work out, so I just plug my earbuds into the machine. I am part of a running group, so when I run outside I'm with people.
22I know you were asking Hypno, but I answered anyway!
23I still have most of my tapes, though I rarely listen to them since I have my ipod, which is a wonderful invention.
I don't have a flat screen either. I still have my dad's sony tv we had when I was a teenager. It still works great. We always get hand me down tvs, someday someone we know will upgrade from there current flat screen or plasma.
24I use my iPod and my very beat-up old Walkman. And a 10-year old tv that still works fine.
25we dont have any electrical device in our house that is more than 3 years old, constantly getting the newer stuff, mostly because my hubby is a tech-head. I love our plasma Tv, movies look so much better on it.
26ahh lilk ok! I can't imagine having to work out without my music so thats why I was wondeirng. Though I'd love to have a running partner so I wouldn't need an ipod! I miss my old running buddy, it was so much more fun to run with her!
27I listen to the music in the club. Besides I've got enough eye distraction going on around me I don't need another one in my ears
28*club = gym
29"Did my dad ... really ever think this was a credible piece of technology?"
Oh dear. That comment makes a lot of people feel old being how far technology has come today.
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