# What's the best portable radio/tape deck? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 4, 2005, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539 "2005-08-04T10:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539/1 "2005-08-04T10:41:40Z")
For years I loved the Sony Walkman model WM-FX281. It had everything I expected out of a Walkman: [ul] [li]AM/FM/WB/TV[/li][li]digital tuning with presets[/li][li]tape playback with fast-forward and rewind[/li][li]good battery life with a way to lock the buttons, and, most importantly[/li][li]a design that was easy for my fingers to learn.[/li][/ul]I could operate the thing in the dark one-handed, switching from tape to radio and moving up and down the dial and across bands without even looking at my unit. (I didn’t sneak a peek at my Walkman, either.) The thing is, the damned things weren’t built to last. I’ve gone through three in seven years. I know (or, at least, I _hope_) a slightly higher-priced model will give me longer service, but I don’t really know which one to buy that will give me at least all of the features my old favorite has. So rather than thrash about online reading dubious reviews, I might as well get some here and at least have a solid starting point. ---
**Author:** ![Tomcat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Tomcat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tomcat)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2005, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539/2 "2005-08-04T12:11:14Z")
Upgrade your tech, man. Go MP3 and get a solid state player like iPod. Download radio shows, store every song you own, do pollute the environment with batteries, get new songs for cheap… Otherwise, you might be able find out more at [consumerreports.org](http://consumerreports.org) with a $5 monthly pass. -Thomas ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539/3 "2005-08-05T00:39:20Z")
**Tomcat** : No. I’m not buying an iPod and I’m not buying a cheapo tape deck. (I knew I’d get one of this kind of post. I’m putting my foot down now so the thread isn’t hijacked.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539/4 "2005-08-05T00:52:49Z")
My guess is that it’s going to be tough to find what you want _because_ of higher-tech gadgets like the iPod. Cassette-based Walkmen are “old school” so I doubt that any company, even Sony, is going to create a high-end model. A couple of years ago, I sold my dual-deck cassette deck since I started burning my own CD’s. Then I found a bunch of pre-recorded cassettes I needed to transfer to disc. :smack: I bought a decent Sony Walkman for about $20. I can remember these things costing upwards of $150! Good luck finding one, though. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2005, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-portable-radio-tape-deck/315539/5 "2005-08-05T09:02:52Z")
**Mr. Blue Sky** : Sony still offers more than a few models under the venerable Walkman nameplate. And they aren’t the only ones selling the things, either. I don’t think there would be quite so many if they _all_ suck at _every_ price point. I hope, at least. Hopefully, someone will come along with some more cheerful experience. Thanks anyway.