Comments on: From Walkman To iPod: A Tale Of Two Eras http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:19:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Mauser http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32519 Mauser Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:54:50 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32519 Igor, you're probably never going to see this, but that quote belongs to Arthur C Clark. Igor, you’re probably never going to see this, but that quote belongs to Arthur C Clark.

]]> By: cw262 http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32471 cw262 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:27:08 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32471 Hi Bob! Thanks for the h/t. I sent it along to you because, for some reason, I thought you might find it amusing. (Perhaps it was the progression of technology, or maybe the naivete of "youngsters" these days"... or maybe even both?) The funny thing is that, while I never had a walkman before myself, even from a young age I did know how to use tapes (which was also why I chuckled at how this kid didn't realize at first that there was another whole side to the tape). Amazing how quickly technology progresses these days... no all of a sudden things like walkmans, compared to their most modern descendants the iPods, could be considered by some to be as outdated as the horse-drawn carriage or whale oil lamp (probably seems like it to be that long to them anyway). Hi Bob! Thanks for the h/t. I sent it along to you because, for some reason, I thought you might find it amusing. (Perhaps it was the progression of technology, or maybe the naivete of “youngsters” these days”… or maybe even both?)

The funny thing is that, while I never had a walkman before myself, even from a young age I did know how to use tapes (which was also why I chuckled at how this kid didn’t realize at first that there was another whole side to the tape).

Amazing how quickly technology progresses these days… no all of a sudden things like walkmans, compared to their most modern descendants the iPods, could be considered by some to be as outdated as the horse-drawn carriage or whale oil lamp (probably seems like it to be that long to them anyway).

]]> By: Igor http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32470 Igor Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:10:00 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32470 Shoot, I remember my first reel-to-reel recorder, a GE that I used to tap into the audio output of a black & white t.v. to record the audio of shows that I wanted to listen to again. Back then (BE, Before Electricity), you saw a show once, then if you heard the "soundtrack" again your mind's eye could replay it without too much concentration. Let's see the kids of today do that! :) Yes, technology marches on. Today's stuff approaches Magic (re: Heinlein's comment, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic!"). I started in computers in 1967 as a 14-year old (a rather precocious one, I'm afraid...) and had already taught myself electronics so I was fiddling around with the technology of the time. TUBES, don'cha know! Remember tubes? Anyway, look what we have now! I understand it perfectly, as well as HOW it works, and it <i>still</i> amazes me! Good grief, I'm officially an Old Fart... Igor Shoot, I remember my first reel-to-reel recorder, a GE that I used to tap into the audio output of a black & white t.v. to record the audio of shows that I wanted to listen to again. Back then (BE, Before Electricity), you saw a show once, then if you heard the “soundtrack” again your mind’s eye could replay it without too much concentration. Let’s see the kids of today do that! :)

Yes, technology marches on. Today’s stuff approaches Magic (re: Heinlein’s comment, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic!”).

I started in computers in 1967 as a 14-year old (a rather precocious one, I’m afraid…) and had already taught myself electronics so I was fiddling around with the technology of the time. TUBES, don’cha know! Remember tubes? Anyway, look what we have now! I understand it perfectly, as well as HOW it works, and it still amazes me!

Good grief, I’m officially an Old Fart…

Igor

]]> By: Booker Rising http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32467 Booker Rising Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:44:55 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32467 <strong>From Walkman To iPod: A Tale Of Two Eras...</strong> Bob Parks, a black conservative Republican commentator, writes about advances in music technology: "I remember my first Walkman. Talk about a status symbol, taking the time to find record cuts to tape (the record industry didn't seem to have a proble... From Walkman To iPod: A Tale Of Two Eras…

Bob Parks, a black conservative Republican commentator, writes about advances in music technology: “I remember my first Walkman. Talk about a status symbol, taking the time to find record cuts to tape (the record industry didn’t seem to have a proble…

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]]> By: Bob http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32454 Bob Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:57:13 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32454 Whoops. Sorry 'bout that, and good catch Ortz. Whoops.

Sorry ’bout that, and good catch Ortz.

]]> By: MissJean http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32452 MissJean Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:17:45 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32452 I have to say that the earlier technology was built to last. I recently got rid of my portable cassette player. It still worked. Same with a Hi-Fi stereo (remember those?) still use the Texas Instruments solar-powered calculator that my grandfather bought me in the '80s. And my early-model DVD player (bought second-hand) has outlasted two newer models. I have to say that the earlier technology was built to last. I recently got rid of my portable cassette player. It still worked. Same with a Hi-Fi stereo (remember those?)

still use the Texas Instruments solar-powered calculator that my grandfather bought me in the ’80s. And my early-model DVD player (bought second-hand) has outlasted two newer models.

]]> By: ortzinator http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32451 ortzinator Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:56:46 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32451 Can you link the article Bob? Can you link the article Bob?

]]> By: Nicolas http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32448 Nicolas Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:30:37 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32448 I came in about half way there, but ya, I too remember the walkman definitely being the "must have" when I was a kid in the early 90s. These days though, I have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune" rel="nofollow">Zune</a> and I definitely know the feeling of the digital age, Bob. Good times. I came in about half way there, but ya, I too remember the walkman definitely being the “must have” when I was a kid in the early 90s. These days though, I have a Zune and I definitely know the feeling of the digital age, Bob. Good times.

]]> By: 404_Name_Not_Found http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32439 404_Name_Not_Found Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:48:40 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32439 At least they never came out with a new version of the Walkman every two weeks At least they never came out with a new version of the Walkman every two weeks

]]> By: The Machine http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32433 The Machine Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:24:55 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32433 I couldn't quite ever get past the cassette speed problem, where the tape spun slower at the beginning and faster at the end. The songs were only in tune when the tape was near the center with equal amounts on both reels. But most people wouldn't notice that. I couldn’t quite ever get past the cassette speed problem, where the tape spun slower at the beginning and faster at the end.

The songs were only in tune when the tape was near the center with equal amounts on both reels.

But most people wouldn’t notice that.

]]> By: PB-in-AL http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32430 PB-in-AL Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:19:46 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32430 I remember the near embarrassment that came with my birthday gift of a Walkman knockoff from Panasonic. The real thing was just so much more cool.... I don't remember why, but it said Sony on it, I s'pose that was enough. Yes, I was a typical shallow 12 y.o. don't say you weren't. I remember the near embarrassment that came with my birthday gift of a Walkman knockoff from Panasonic. The real thing was just so much more cool…. I don’t remember why, but it said Sony on it, I s’pose that was enough.

Yes, I was a typical shallow 12 y.o. don’t say you weren’t.

]]> By: PB-in-AL http://www.black-and-right.com/2009/06/30/from-walkman-to-ipod-a-tale-of-two-eras/comment-page-1/#comment-32429 PB-in-AL Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:17:05 +0000 http://www.black-and-right.com/?p=23514#comment-32429 The last question is, after all the "I'm naive" comments, still ridiculously arrogant. Of course, we thought it credible. It made music truly portable. I think this schmuck needs to be stuck with a turntable and vinyl for a month and see what he thinks about that! With regard to how far it's come, wow. In the 15+ years that I've been in the IT business the prices for stuff has dropped as fast as it has gotten smaller. My first PC at my first IT job had 8MB RAM. My boss wanted it upgraded to 16MB, so I could run OS/2 as fast as possible. That extra 8MB of RAM cost about $600. Now I can get a 16GB microSDHC for my phone for about $70, a 4GB micro for $10! I can hardly handle those micro cards, they're so small. Now that's progress. And, as you say Bob, it didn't come out of a vacuum; today's professionals are the ones who made it happen. The last question is, after all the “I’m naive” comments, still ridiculously arrogant. Of course, we thought it credible. It made music truly portable. I think this schmuck needs to be stuck with a turntable and vinyl for a month and see what he thinks about that!

With regard to how far it’s come, wow. In the 15+ years that I’ve been in the IT business the prices for stuff has dropped as fast as it has gotten smaller. My first PC at my first IT job had 8MB RAM. My boss wanted it upgraded to 16MB, so I could run OS/2 as fast as possible. That extra 8MB of RAM cost about $600. Now I can get a 16GB microSDHC for my phone for about $70, a 4GB micro for $10! I can hardly handle those micro cards, they’re so small.

Now that’s progress. And, as you say Bob, it didn’t come out of a vacuum; today’s professionals are the ones who made it happen.

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