RIP Sony Cassette Walkman

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Say it isn't so! Sony says it is officially putting the cassette Sony Walkman out to pasture. In fact, the last batch was shipped out months ago. Once they sell out, it's over.

I'm dating myself. But, the Walkman (cassette model) was the iPod of my youth. This is sort of like finding out Hall and Oates have decided to retire. I'm honestly surprised either are still around, fond feelings of nostalgia aside.

Before you youngsters start making snarky comments, consider this:

1. Sony has sold over 200 million of them since 1979. Not bad! However, Apple has sold over a 100 million iPods since 2001. 

2. The first portable cassette players have been around since the late 60's (that's 40 plus years for those of you who are too lazy to do the math on your calendar app).

3. Before there was illegal file sharing, people just recorded everything on cassette; including each other's albums and CDs, bootleg concerts and discreetly made recordings of speeches and presentations. The record companies weren't happy about it, but they didn't really care either. Everyone was happy. Indeed, this was our version of social media; inviting the opposite sex over to swap and share a listen to concert tapes

4. The cassette version of the Walkman was big and bulky by today's standards. Our shorts were shorter and less substantial without belt loops. Somehow we kept our pants up anyway. And no, we didn't wear them in an armband either.

Final question:

Is this one of our last vestiges of analog technology? What's left?

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @oricchio

Renee Oricchio is a technology writer and former supervising news producer for CNN Financial News. She has been covering the computer industry since 1987. @oricchio