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The complete genius of the Walkman was that it featured two headphone jacks. Such a simple design decision, with such large ramifications. In total, the Walkman
by Daub 7y ago
The complete genius of the Walkman was that it featured two headphone jacks. Such a simple design decision, with such large ramifications. In total, the Walkman is a classic example of a disruptive industry: creating new industries and killing (or at least mortally wounding) old ones. I remember how terminally moribund the industry-controlled pop charts had become before mix tapes became a thing.
- JKCalhoun 7y agoI guess I never took advantage of that. For me it was: 1) Headphones — I was used to listening to music from speakers. Even familiar music was new sounding with headphones. I had listened through headphones before, but infrequently. The Walkman only had headphones — checkmate. 2) Walking around (rocking around) with my music. Sure, "transistor radios" had been around for decades, but this was a compact, stereo, cassette player. …I'm reminded of Frank Black's "I Heard Ramona Sing" — a tribute to both the Ramones and the Walkman.
- Zelphyr 7y agoAnd like the white iPod ear buds that came twenty years later, those orange foam headphones were a status symbol. Simply walking around with them hanging around your neck made you cool e.g.; Marty McFly at the beginning of Back To The Future I find it amusing that we went from relatively small Walkman headphones, to tiny little Apple earbuds, to giant Beats headphones as the status symbol.
- astrodust 7y agoRemember the old ridiculously huge cans from the 1970s with a quarter-inch jack? They're back!
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Zelphyr 7y agoThat was my exact thought the first time I saw Beats headphones.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y agoIt's hard to consume conspicuously when everything is miniaturized.