Although the world of audio has turned to hard drives and digital thumb drives for portable audio, tape is holding its own small share of the market as the original portable sound source the Walkman and others offer an inexpensive alternative.
Sony Walkman Digital Tuning Weather FM/AM Stereo Cassette Player
The device that started the personal audio revolution is still holding its own as the Sony Walkman portable stereo cassette player is available at a very reasonable $29.95. It still uses cassette tape told hold your audio mixes, favorite tunes or digital books, but nevertheless, it is still available in a convenient shirt-pocket sized and will play 35 hours on one AA battery. It still relies on a stereo headphone.
Indeed, it has some added functionality that, even now, the digital world still does not offer. The Walkman offers a 33 channel weather, FM/AM stereo receiver that allows listening to favorite radio stations, but it also adds access to the National Weather's continuous radio forecast service stations and it adds the audio feed from seven television stations. It is not new technology, but it works, giving you access to old audio mix tapes or tunes that may have been favorites. It was the first personal audio device, launching the personal sound revolution typified by today's iPod and other devices.
Sony TCM Standard Voice Recorder
Although it may not seem likely, there is still a place in the audio world for a straight two-track portable tape recorder such as the Sony TCM 150. Not small by any means, the $19.95 TCM 150 is an excellent device for recording lectures or other events where old-fashioned audio tape will do the job. The TCM 150 features up to 25 hours of playing time on two AA batteries.
This is not a stereo device. It does feature the "Clear Voice" recording system so that it uses microelectronics to try to gain as much fidelity as possible in its recordings. The built-in microphone delivers reasonable fidelity and the earphone jack allows you to hear the left and right mono inputs independently. The TCM 150 does not offer voice activation.
New Portable CD Player with Stereo Cassette by Emerson PD6548SL
In a world where it seems that iPods and like devices are all-important, it is interesting to find that boombox sales are still part of the market mix. Emerson's PD6548SL boombox at $34.95 combines an AM/FM stereo radio receiver with a CD player and a stereo cassette recorder with automatic volume level control into a nicely designed package that delivers surprising quality from built-in three-inch speakers. The PD6548SL is a hybrid device. It offers a reasonable AM/FM stereo radio, with an FM stereo indicator.
The PD6548SL is a tabletop boombox. It is a very flexible device. You can listen to a CD in the top- mounted 20-track memory player; a stereo tape, or the AM/FM stereo radio. The oval-shaped boombox delivers surprising sound through a set of three-inch wide-range speakers. The sound sources include the CD, AM/FM stereo receiver and the AM/FM stereo tape recorder. A built-in pause button can be used to edit.
Klipsch Quintet 5.0 Speaker System
Continuing a tradition of providing fine sound that began more than 60 years ago, the latest generation Klipsch surround sound is available with some very impressive statistics that will keep even the pickiest HDTV user happy.
Nikon Waterproof Digital Camera
Believe it or not, there are times when you want to operate when the weather is cold and wet or warm and wet, and you need a camera that can operate on either extreme, that is easy to operate and simple to maintain.
2012 Honda Civic
The last time Honda decided to make a "really big change" with its highly popular Civic line was in 2006. Indeed, the look caught so many people by surprise that the automaker is taking a "go-slow" approach with any changes they are making now.
