Adventures in Tech - The Walkman's amazing origins

Sony's groundbreaking Walkman was actually a slightly tweaked version of an existing Sony device -- we reveal all in the latest episode of Adventures in Tech!

[Embargoman]

Well Walkman is still around it is now, the 2nd most sold MP3 player behind Apple's iPod.

[rml]

I still have mine from junior high. I wanted something with an FM radio for camp and it worked out beautifully. Still works to this day...if only I could remember where I put it. LOL 

[KaylaTsukinochan]

ive almost forgotten about those. I had a few versions in my lifetime. Honestly, I don't miss it.

[IvanoForgione]

I still have a couple of them roaming in my drawer

[SiriusXAim]

I have the WM10 which is the world's smallest, WM F-18, and a pressman. And I walk around London's, well Camden's Street with them daily... Folks on the tube look at it, sometimes kids ask what it is. Some starts a conversation reminiscing about the old days. Others want to have a listen and are surprised by the outstanding sound quality Walkmans have.
I love it, maybe more than my iPod/iPhone.

[Cherub]

I remember making mix tapes either from other cassettes you already owned or from waiting patiently by the radio, finger hovering over the record button.

[Jimmyfresshhtube]

back in my day, if we wanted to listen to music, we had to sing.

[AndresOssa]

Really interesting, really good show!

[jetblack]

My childhood was awesome because of this tech

[MartyMcFryyy]

I remember getting my first Walkman for my birthday 12th birthday in 88...had to borrow one of my dad's tapes as I had none...Dire Straits Album it was.... Any how switched it on, turned it up full blast, went out side to go to my pals to show off my new gadget who lived across the road but didn't make it as I was hit by a neighbours car as I didn't hear it and had to go hospital....up side thou was I had some music to pass the time in there.... Never listened to that Album again thou :) oh happy days...

[Lachlant]

In 1992 my grandmother bought me a Realistic (Tandy/Radio Shack brand) personal stereo, a very cheap one, with play, fast forward and stop buttons, it did have a bass boost switch on it.  I loved that thing until I broke it in 1995 when I dropped it.  I've also owned plenty of other personal stereo products too.  

[digitalrbn]

i used to have a walkman that you could listen to TV stations that was awesome.

[NJBROTHAK]

Gosh. I'm in my 30's and I can't remember my first Sony Walkman model. 1 of my favorite had auto reverse feature. When 1 side was done. It played the other side. That was the early 90's model.

[imtiaz]

Great trip down memory lane. I never owned one myself, instead occasionally nicking my uncle's one and accepting a few curses and the odd beating when he found out.

It was worth it though, what a great device. Incredibly tough, you could use one as a feature brick in your house (sarcasm).

[centaura]

I remembered that students brought those in class to record lectures hidden in backpacks. Also, the batteries wouldn't last too. Had to change them a lot.

[DragnMagic]

Portable music players have evolved quite a bit since the Walkman :P 

[masterlee]

Back in the days My school book bags consist of cassettes batteries and a Sony walkman and my notebooks. Those were the days you could hold your music on your hands, cassettes CDs and read the music on the cassette or CD.

[doritodude]

I was only born in '93 but somehow I had a Walkman. I think the only tape I had was like a short audiobook of Star Wars Ep. 1. I didn't use the thing much but I love it now.

[gabomicrosite]

Love this show. What about history about the Newton or other Apple's flops?

[Rize_Inn]

I loved cassettes. CD's and MP3's are no replacement for them. I guess it just depends on what medium one comes of age with. Looking forward to more Adventures In Tech. Maybe you could do a show on PDA's like Palm Pilots and how they preceded our modern smart devices.