The Sony Walkman, the first widely popular portable music device, has officially turned 30. While it's difficult to imagine in this age of tiny electronics, the relatively bulky cassette player was once universally recognized as a cutting edge piece of electronics, fad item and status symbol. Even though it ate tapes, weighed a lot and looked sort of dorky. Before the Walkman, music lovers were forced to carry suitcase-sized boomboxes on their shoulders.

More than just a popular fad of the late 70s and 80s, the Walkman is the spiritual father of today's iPods and Zunes. In fact, Sony maintained its hold on the portable music player market well into the 90s, releasing more refined Walkmans (Walkmen?) as well as the CD-playing DiscMan, minidisc players and network Walkmen as well as other variations on the theme. That is, until the iPod came out and destroyed Sony's line.

Sony has been trying to reinvigorate the Walkman line recently, by introducing MP3 players that feature touchscreen displays, mobile TV, and the ability to surf the Internet and watch YouTube videos.

I caught up with the original Walkman at Shady Acres Home for Abandoned and Outdated Electronics in Los Angeles. "I can't believe I've been around for three decades," Walkman said. "Kids today have their iPonds and Microsoft Windows, but Cool and the Gang just isn't Cool and the Gang unless you're listening to it on a Walkman, know what I mean?" 

"Wait, who are you? What do you want? Are you stealing my pills?" Walkman added before chasing me away with a cane.

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