I have a video iPod that I use almost 12 hours/day. I am completely addicted to watching old TV shows when waiting for the train, ordering a bagel, or sitting in a meeting at work.

Its hard to believe that just a few short years ago, the greatest thing since sliced bread was the Walkman. I remember the year they came out. The upwardly mobile kids at my school showed up with these headphones that I had never seen before and I found it astonishing that such a “little” box could play so much music. I was in awe and begged my Mother to get me one. I did get one - like 6 years later - when everyone was using these new things called CDs.

Now of course it all seems silly. My iPod can hold the equivalent of a 1000+ Walkmans without batting an eye. Still without the Walkman I am not so sure the iPod would have come around. Because of this, I would like to take a look backward at this bellwether in portable entertainment and say “Walkman - We salute you!”