Discman

Discman was Sony's brand name for portable CD players. The first Discman, the Sony D-50 or D-5 (depending on region), was launched in 1984. The brand name changed to CD Walkman, initially for Japanese lineups launched between October 1997 and March 1998,^[1] and then entirely in 2000. Discman and CD Walkman players are no longer produced.

Background[edit]

Prior to the development of the Compact Disc, cassette tapes were the dominant form of audio storage in the then-fledgling portable audio industry. In 1979, Sony introduced the Walkman in Japan.^[2] When Sony realized the potential of the CD, the Walkman was promoted to mainstream buyers.

Intelligent Discman was a line of Discman players that played format discs.^[8]

CD-i

CD-ROM Discman, both Sony and Panasonic released portable CD players with a connector for use as an external CD-ROM drive on a computer, though with a lower speed than dedicated computer drives.^[9]

PCMCIA card

Sony D-50 without the Discman brand.

Sony D-50 with its rear cover removed, revealing the main PCB.

Sony D-50 with the optional rechargeable battery station.

Sony D-50 with its main PCB flipped up.

Sony Data Discman

Sony Walkman

. Sony Electronics Inc. 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

"Sony History"

. Sony Electronics Inc. April 5, 1999. Archived from the original on July 20, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2016.

"Sony Walkman Personal Stereo Turns 20 Years Old"

Jarman, Tim; Jarman, Nick (2016). . - Reference site containing details and pictures of various Discman and Walkman models.

"Walkman Central"

. EEV Blog (YouTube). March 28, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.