The "Walk-men" and "Walk-women" in advertisements were created to be the ideal reflections of the viewing audience. The marketing of the Walkman helped introduce the idea of "Japanese-ness" into global culture, synonymous with miniaturization and high-technology. The last cassette-based model available in the US was the WM-FX290W - this model was first released 2004. Portable compact disc players led to the decline of the cassette Walkman, which was discontinued in Japan in 2010. By 1999, 20 years after the introduction of the first model, Sony sold 186 million cassette Walkmans. 150 million units were manufactured by 1995. A 15th anniversary model was also made on July 1, 1994, with vertical loading, and a 20th anniversary on July 1, 1999, with a prestige model.īy 1989, 10 years after the launch of the first model, over 100 million Walkmans had been sold worldwide. Two limited edition 10th anniversary models were released in 1989 (WM-701S/T) in Japan, made of brass and plated in sterling silver. Within a decade of launch, Sony held a 50% market share in the United States and 46% in Japan. In 1986 Sony presented the first model outfitted with remote control, as well as one with a solar battery (WM-F107). In October 1985, the WM-101 model was the first in its class with a "gum stick" rechargeable battery. The first model with autoreverse was released in 1984. This allowed even easier carrying of a Walkman in bags or pockets.
The first ultra-compact "cassette-size" Walkman was introduced in 1983, model WM-20, with a telescopic case. The first model with Dolby noise-reduction system appeared in 1982. In 1981 Sony released the second Walkman model, the WM-2, which was significantly smaller compared to the TPS-L2 thanks to "inverse" mounting of the power-operated magnetic head and soft-touch buttons. The 1980s was the decade of the intensive development of the Walkman lineup. Three Walkman players, variously dating between 19
0 kommentar(er)
