It's back, but in a whole new way.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/sonys-walkman-makes-comeback-1405896826

In what way is that... the article is subscription only in the link. Tell me... I MUST KNOW!

I don't get it. I was able to read the whole story on that site.

This link should work.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2461186,00.asp

Wow, we're at the point where technology has to go backwards to appeal to consumers?

It sounds like a really desperate move by Sony. They've been losing a lot of money, and now they're in pretty bad financial standing. After I read about the news that they're bringing back the walkman, I facepalmed. If I want to listen to music, I'd listen to them on my phone. I don't need another device to listen to them... and even if I do, I sure as hell wouldn't pay $700 just to do it.

This is one of those times where Sony lets their ego get to them. They were the top king in electronics 20 years ago, but now it seems that after the digital age came along, they really lost touch. They charge their TVs and laptops at really expensive prices while the other brands makes them at more affordable prices.

I can't get over how much the new Walkman costs. That's just too unfair.

Didn't Sony have an MP3 player Walkman when ipods became popular like 10 years ago? Or am I thinking of something else?

You know what would be really super cool too? Giant cell phones with no visual display at all. Let's do that again, and maybe price 'em at about $2,000.00 or so... give or take a couple hundred.

I think Sony is pricing this high to make it more appealing. Think about it, no matter how rich you are you likely have the same smart phone as the teenager walking down the street. I think affluent consumers want a "stand out" device, even if it is quite superfluous.

As Bluigi and vkimo point out, Sony has an ego.  Again and again, it smacks them.  From Beta to Minidisc to Memory Stick.  Remember when Playstation 3 was $600? 

pikachulover wrote :

Didn't Sony have an MP3 player Walkman when ipods became popular like 10 years ago? Or am I thinking of something else? -end quote

Everybody had an MP3 player then.  The iPod just happened to be the first successful one, due to its attractive screen and intuitive controls (compared to the competition at the time.)  Here are the Sony "Network Walkman" MS6 and 7.  The 7 came out in 1999.





After iPod proved portable digital file music players could be successful, Sony tried yet again with the NW-HD1. 



This model boasted superior quality and features in some ways...but
would not play MP3 files.  Only Sony's proprietary ATRAC format. 
Naturally, the device did little in the market, despite a later firmware
upgrade to correct this.  Sony's hubris strikes again!