So, I’m behind in technology again.
The realization of this usually comes when one of my electronic devices breakdown due to age.
My “stereo” is starting to act wonky. So, I better start pricing out a replacement, I figure.
Well, the last time I had to replace my “stereo” was in the mid 1990s when my component stereo went on the fritz and I discovered that records no longer existed and CDs were now the preferred medium of music delivery.
So, I had to buy a stereo (the one currently giving me grief) but couldn’t find one with a turntable to spin 300-400 vinyl records I had. Nowhere.
So, I buy one with CD capacity and the soon to be dead cassette player – double cassette player, woo! The cassettes disappeared within a handful of years too and I had to buy a whole new collection of CDs, replacing some of the 300-400 records I had. Some of them.
Over the last 10-15 years I’ve been building up my CD collection. In the interim I got rid of my records in garage sales only to discover a year or two ago that someone has decided it’s worthwhile producing a turntable that can convert vinyl recordings into mp3 files.
Thanks for waiting until I virtually gave away my 300-400 records. Do you know how hard it is to find a Gang of Four CD these days?
Well, the trusty Sony (unmitigated plug – quality stereo, lasted 10-15 years now) is acting up. It hasn’t given up the ghost yet, I’m employing the male repair method (wait to see if it gets better) but given the age of the unit, the outlook is bleak.
So, I go looking for a replacement. Think I can find a CD player anywhere? No!
Oh sure, if I want to buy a home entertainment centre for my HDTV, I can get a multi-CD player but a shelf unit? Nope.
Do people not buy CDs any more? I know what you’re thinking, “Where the hell have you been?”
I’m not a total Luddite. I do have an iPod. I’ve actually bought mp3s from a legal music download service but I didn’t realize the CD market had collapsed so much that CD players are now obsolete.
Anyone want to buy a hundred or so CDs? Just wait, I’ll be giving them away soon.
So now I have to find a shelf stereo system that I can plug my iPod into or which I can load mp3s into.
My usual method of listening to recorded music these days is to buy or borrow a CD and import the tracks into my MacBook’s iTunes player.
At least this time I have the ability to convert my music before the player becomes obsolete.
It’s this kind of situation that makes you want to pirate music. I’ve already discovered that people have uploaded all the music I used to listen to on my vinyl albums onto YouTube. And it’s free. For now.
Give it time, that will change and they’ll find a way for me to pay for it.