An unplugged life

I read today that Sony's Walkman turned 30. They had a 13 year old try it for a few days and report about it on the website he edits. Here is his response to the out-dated technology;

"My dad had told me it was the iPod of its day," Campbell wrote. "He had told me it was big, but I hadn't realized he meant that big. It was the size of a small book."

Sure enough, people on the street noticed the antique clinging from his belt with amusement and friends on his school bus were quick to come up with some witty remark.

Campbell went on to criticize the portable cassette player's size, appearance, functionality and the "hissy backtrack and odd warbly noises."

Even when he discovered the cassette had more music on the other side (it took him three days), Campbell was still disappointed it could only hold a small fraction of what an iPod can.

"Did my dad ... really ever think this was a credible piece of technology?"

Ouch.

A daily dose of postings from The Chronicle's technology blog (sfgate.com/blogs/tech)
This article appeared on page C - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle

I have often thought about the world of technology that my kids live in. They have never known an unplugged world! There was never a time before microwaves. Never a time before CDs and DVDs, for them. They have always had video games. They don't remember a time when dad, or mom, was without a cell phone. To them a world without these things would seem primitive, backwards even!

I remember our first microwave. It was an enormous gray box that mom and dad placed next to the rotary phone (with the super long cord that was just perfect for stretching out of the kitchen, out the back door and onto the back deck for privacy). The microwave had a large turn knob, made copious amounts of noise, and 'dinged' when done. There was one heat setting... ON.

Grandpa thought it would fry all our brains.

I thought it was amazing that I could re-heat leftovers in minutes and didn't have to wait for the oven to preheat! Boy, do I remember the time Peder tried to 'hard-boil' an egg in it! His screams woke the entire family!

Our first VCR? It had toggle switches on the front. Dad placed it near the floor below the TV. I would lay on the floor and watch the TV shows we had recorded, then use my toes to operate the fast forward feature to SKIP THE COMMERCIALS! What fabulous technology!

Remember JR Ewing's car phone in the prime time soap, Dallas? It was as big as his head! It was incredible! Oh, how I wished I was rich enough to have a phone in my car someday! Hee, hee, hee! Now I have a bluetooth feature to the stereo in the car so that I can use my cell phone, hands free! And no, I am not rich.

I don't doubt that earlier generations wondered what would become of a generation that never knew a time before cars and airplanes. Have we turned out all right?