Ryan McAvoy said:

Daaamn. That thing is selling!

As this movie seems to be on a lovely nostalgia tip... I had this:

Sony Walkman WM-EX36

Many an "awesome mix tape" was enjoyed. Although given I got it in 1991, I also probably sent a lot of time listening to Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' album ;-)

Look kids ^ it had "Auto Reverse"! That meant you didn't have to spend several minutes rewinding your tapes if you wanted to listen to the album again.

Welcome to the future.

Funny thing is, I used to see old Walkmans littering thrift stores well into the 90's. This was well before the net, ebay, and retro electronics being in vogue though.

Quill's model was a bit old, even in 1988. Makes sense a kid would have a hand me down. I knew someone in high school who had the really tiny one no bigger than a cassette box, and that was an expensive model.

I lament my busted old Walkman is a Sanyo.

This is the first movie I've seen in a long time where the source music is so integral to the story. It's not just there to push a soundtrack album. I'm sure Disney would have loved to sneak something in by some fresh faced teenybopper band of the moment, but that would have broken the spell.

I could nitpick how a cassette tape could survive twenty years of a rough and tumble life in space, but if Quill could find someone to build the tape deck in his spaceship, anything is possible. :)