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I forgot all about the Firewire and brought the classic Sony Walkman upstairs to my home office.
I was praying that it wasn’t filled with a pair of exploded double AA batteries.
(Image credit: Future)
To my surprise and relief, it was empty and clean as a whistle.
Shake it off
Holding the Walkman in my hand, I was surprised at its heft.
Thoughlisted on Amazonas weighing 9.6 ounces, I’d contend it weighs at least a pound.
(Image credit: Future)
Like the originalSony Walkman (circa 1979)the player’s shape was defined by its media.
Whereas the first Walkman wrapped itself around a cassette tape, this 2002 model was mostly a circle.
I say mostly because one side of the player is a big, grippable section.
The idea was to put all the controls within thumb or fingertip reach.
There’s something very forward-looking and also retrograde about this design.
Who wants to carry around a pound of gear in their hand while running?
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This didn’t mean that the laser never skipped.
It was a smart idea that also ate up a little battery life.
The cable was too short, the earbuds fit was basic, and the sound was abysmal.
(Image credit: Future)
I soon found a newer pair fromSamsungand the sound was lovely and rich.
There’s a lot on this Walkman that is no longer useful.
Plus there are those weather stations that now play nothing but static.
(Image credit: Future)
As I noted earlier, the radio, both AM and FM, still works.
In today’s moment, that’s Taylor Swift and theTortured Poet’s Department.
Don’t blame me
As I tuned the radio to Z100, I heard familiar vocals.
It was Taylor Swift, and not just any Taylor Swift, (say a banger from1989orAnti-Herofrom Midnight).
No, I could tell, this was one of Swift’s song-poems from theTortured Poet’s Department.
Suddenly, the album was in heavy rotation.
It also sounded terrible.
Even from the static-filled bits I could make out, this was some beautiful and tortured stuff.
After a few tracks, I gave up.
It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.
