Music's over for Sony Walkman

New York Post ^ | October 24, 2010 | HEATHER HADDON

[ConservativeStatement]

The iconic Walkman has come to the end of its run.

Sony has pulled the plug on the original portable cassette-tape player, Japanese media report.

The company made its last shipment of the cassette Walkmans to the Japanese market earlier this year -- and when they're gone from stores, they'll be finished.

Sony is outsourcing some manufacturing to a Chinese company for sales to people who still use obsolete cassette tapes.

[UB355]

Search the app store for TuneIn Radio. I just checked it’s there $1.99. You can find the stations that broadcast different shows. I often “tune In” Dennis Miller and hit the record button and listen later.

[altura]

I still use cassettes. the domestic partner tapes Rush every day for me on cassette. I have a car old enough that it has a cassette player.

I also use cassettes at the gym. I know I’m behind the curve but I really wish I could find a cassette radio.

[Fiji Hill]

I have a car old enough that it has a cassette player.

My car also has a cassette player.

[PAR35]

My car also has a cassette player.

Mine does to. Got my wife a new car, and they didn't seem to offer that as an option.

[wagglebee]

It might be hard for some of the younger Freepers to believe, but in 1982, the cassette Walkman was the coolest thing on the planet. I felt like such a big shot back in those days, walking down the street with 12 songs in my pocket!

Yep, I remember that well!

[GeronL]

They were still making that thing?

[raccoonradio]

--I think the CCrane catalog has something like that (or at least it's a radio you can record from as mp3 files and it's both AM and FM) but it may be expensive

--in some places Rush is on FM talk. Example: Rush Radio 99.5, New Orleans. Or an AM station simulcasts on FM (translator)

--Alternative method of recording:
get a portable radio with a headphone (1/8") jack and set it to station running Rush. Example: Rush Radio 1200 Boston...buy a mini-FM transmitter (Maxell, about $25 or so) and plug into radio. Choose an FM frequency. Then set your mp3 player which has an FM radio (RCA Opal, Sansa Fuze etc.) and set it that frequency, and record. The mini FM transmitter is what some people use to broadcast an mp3 player in their car though some newer cars have mp3 player jacks.

[raccoonradio]

I still use cassettes as well as mp3 players, etc.

--Store bought cassettes from past
--Recordings of radio shows or albums...many of my old radio shows (have been on college radio for almost 30 yrs), other interesting stuff

--recordings of local folk, blues, rock concerts.

Sony and maybe some other manufacturers have made:
--AM-FM-Cass. Walkman

--AM-FM Cass RECORDABLE Walkman (discontinued), rec. off radio or voice

--Stereo Walkman recorder, no radio (discontinued)

--Mono Walkman recorder, good for dictation, meetings, small concerts. I mail "talk tapes" to a friend

[raccoonradio]

I’ve bought a few Sandisk Sansa Fuze mp3 players—can also rec. voice and record off FM radio—but the scroll wheel can freeze up if it gets moist, etc. (had in pocket, light rain).
May try various solutions or maybe even the Sandisk Sansa
Clip (which I’ve been told also can rec. off FM radio and has
no troublesome scroll wheel)

but in the meantime I spent $50 for an RCA Opal (made by
Audiovox) mp3 player/FM radio & recorder/voice rec...no
scroll wheel, like so far. (As I said in another comment, if one wishes to record off AM, you can get a mini FM
transmitter and put it in headphone jack of an AM-FM
radio; broadcast on a selected frequency and record
on the mp3 player/recorder.

[raccoonradio]

There are also portable HD radios for $40-50 at Best Buy (Insignia)—they get FM only BUT some AM signals are
relayed on subchannels. For example, WEEI sportsradio
is on the HD3 of WMKK 93.7 and WBZ news radio is on the HD3
of WBZ-FM 98.5...here you have FM radio with HD signals
and “extra stations” on certain frequencies, and among those
are AM signals. No mp3, just a radio.

[raccoonradio]

The other day I noticed the car next to me had a cass. player; mine, an O7, has CD. Wonder who still has a radio
with an 8 track in car? :)

And newer models of cars have a jack below the radio
where you can (with a cheap adapter) plug in your mp3
player. Otherwise you get one of those mini FM
transmitters I mentioned above to do this.

[CIBvet]

As a pro-musician for many years, and seriously concerned protector of our U.S.Constitution, I still go throughout my every day with (soft-tipped) Sony earbuds plugged into either tunes or Talk Radio ... and my recent delightful discovery/solution to an all-in-one unit with AM access ... the digital, C.Crane, CC Witness.

It's well thought out ... well built, and less than 1/2 the size of a pack of cigarettes ... it's an Mp3 recorder/player w/ built in AM/FM & internal spkr, USB to your computer, 2GB int memory, 16GB via SD card, alarm, calendar, records radio or w/ the internal mic, and more... $179

CC Witness

... and now my iPod sits gathering dust.

[real saxophonist]

Damn roommate stole my Discman, but I still have a Walkman. Yellow, casette/AM/FM.

[jimfree]

CC Witness

Very impressive!

[Tanniker Smith]

I still have my walkman, and I still use it, although I think the cassette player broke last time it was knocked over. I'd replace it, but I usually use it to listen to AM when talking walks (ie talk radio). I can't find any portable radio that's more reliable. Most of them get static or lose the station every time you move.

I also still have a Discman, but I don't use it. Too bulky for walking and the CDs would skip on me. I tried it in the car for a while, but it was too distracting.

[tlb]

>>> in 1982, the cassette Walkman was the coolest thing on the planet.

Dire Straits and Rollergirl confirmed that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQBKUPwG_Gk

We did a thread on it once even.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2114805/posts

[AzSteven]

I've got a 4GB Sansa Clip+ that I added a 16GB microsd card to...

Other than having too many MP3 files, have you run into any problems with using the MicroSD card in the Sansa? I was just getting ready to do the same thing (my 4GB was long since filled!) and was curious if there were any issues with performance, or with downloading to the Sansa.

[dennisw]

I use my Sony Walkman all the time when I take a fast walk for health reasons. I never use the cassette player but the AM/FM reception is great with lots of presets. I like that it uses two AA batteries I recharge. I hate tiny AAA batteries you find in tiny MP3 players that have no radio reception or maybe just FM...... meaning no talk radio

My ideal WalkMan would take a 1GB SD card that I load music on. It would thus be an MP3 player plus AM/FM radio and would run on two AA batteries plus have real earphones. Ear buds are ridiculous. Cut out the cassette player and make it smaller

[Senator Pardek]

"It might be hard for some of the younger Freepers to believe, but in 1982..."

Are we that old now?! The giant banana yellow model was the best.

[Darren McCarty]

I wonder if I still have a discman.