What many of our younger readers may not realize is that Walkmans of old, and the cassette tapes that we used to play in them, were a lot bigger than is commonly thought. Take a look at the picture above to get an idea: barely larger than the tape within, this device is around two to three times bigger than a modern laptop computer. This is the reason why so many old people, who carried them as we carry iPods today, walk bent over in a shuffling stoop.
However, modern technology means that more can be packed in to these giant boxes, and this one not only manages to fit in a tape but will convert it to the much smaller MP3, a kind of cassette so tiny that millions can fit on the head of a pin.
The Ion Tape Express works fine as a “personal stereo”, running off AA batteries, but when hooked up via USB it converts the hissy tunes into digital ones and zeroes for the accompanying software to crunch into MP3s on the “computer” (like a pocket calculator, only with more pictures of naked people).
The Tape Express is on sale in England, where the iPod was recently launched to great acclaim, and the Queen’s subjects are frenziedly digitizing their music to keep up. The machine costs £50, or just over $80, and should be available in a “fortnight”.
Product page [I Want One of Those via Oh Gizmo]
See Also:
- Retro-Style Cassette Tape USB Hub
- Retro Cassette Deck Will Hook Up to Almost Everything
- Bye-Bye Cassette Tape: UK Chain Kills Romantic Format
- Cassette Tape Measure: Punniest Retro-Tool Ever?
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