Sony Ends Production of the Walkman

[Tiffany]

After 31 Years, Sony Ends Production of the Walkman

After more than 30 years of producing its Walkman portable cassette players, Sony said it's ending sales of the Walkman. The final batch was produced in Japan in April, and no more will be produced as soon as the current run is sold out. Just over 200 million cassette Walkman players have been sold over the years since being first introduced in 1979.

Sony will continue to make and sell CD- and MiniDisc-based Walkmans, as well as its latest flash-based devices. Cloned but Sony-branded Walkmans will continue to be made by Chinese makers in Asia and the Middle East.

The Walkman is widely credited with pioneering the concept of personal, portable audio beyond the radio. It helped spur on the cassette as a popular format and also maintained interest in albums. Interest only began to fade in the 1990s when the Discman took over, and saw a more definite end when the iPod was in sight.

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I have so many love/hate memories of my walkman. I remember waiting around to record my favorite songs off the radio and getting annoyed when DJs would talk over songs. Also, the walkman I owned didn't have a RR button, so I would have to flip it over and fast-forward it, lol. This is the end of an era~

Also, I owned a Barbie cassette that got a shameless amount of play (my love for pink started at an early age):


please, share your stories/eulogies.

[Brandon]

What's a Walkman?

[Mutant Couch]

I thought they quit making these about ten years ago.

[Astrozombie]

Had no idea they even still made them.

It is kind of sad though, it was a love/hate relationship with my walkman. Well the hate mostly came from rewinding my N*SYNC cassette, but it was worth it listening to 'Tearin Up My Heart' over and over and over again.

[Burke]

I love my iPod, but being a 90’s baby, the walkman still brings back fond memories.

Oct 22, 2010 22:51:57 GMT -5 Tiffany said:

I remember waiting around to record my favorite songs off the radio and getting annoyed when DJs would talk over songs.

LMAO. I used to do this also. There was nothing worse than when the song was just about finished and someone would walk into the room and make a noise, thus ruining the whole recording.