Found in the obsoleted box, a Panasonic SL–SW860 Portable CD Player SHOCK WAVE METAL S-XBS with 40 Seconds ANTI-SHOCK MEMORY 4.0 ! Nomenclature contrasts with Apple’s minimalist and elegant iPod that would debut a year after this short lived unit.

The clamshell lid was unlocked to reveal a CD rip of Lila Downs – Una Sangre (2004). You could supposedly exercise to the tunes.

The device was designed to be clutched in hand with steadying wrist strap –awkwardly. The weight specification is 3/4 lbs. but that is understated. It feels rugged but is only water resistant (splash proof). There is an O-ring on the door so it might survive a rain shower but in fairness nothing was designed for underwater immersion. Hard to imagine jogging with this thing.

Also in the junk drawer, this iRiver iFP MP3. Using flash memory this was a popular digital audio player. Too large to slip into one’s pant pocket, it was intended to dangle from a lanyard. Still, this was an advance from the weighty CD player. The iRiver was well received despite its still unusual form factor.

These two devices, along with plenty of cassette tape players unmentioned, were exciting in concept and served needs for the moment; then came the first generation Apple. Using a a mini hard drive and at 1/2 lb. was about the size of a deck of cards — but at $399. The iPod got leaner/cheaper and we all know who won the digital player battle. Predecessors are only memories now.