[IowaHawk]

Not to mention the Segway's warp-9 Dork Coefficient.

Note to the anti-car Nazis: you'll get my hot rod when you pry the shift knob from my cold, dead fingers.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Do they stil make the IT? I thought they went bankrupt and discontinued sales.

[r9etb]

Segway probably has a niche market, in which it will compete with things like motorized scooters. But its impracticalities are too great for a guy like me, who lives a considerable distance from work, has three kids, one wife, and a lot of things to haul.

Single city-dwellers might find it useful for nice days if they don't have far to go, but they'll need to keep their cars, too.

[Aristophanes]

Not to mention the Segway's warp-9 Dork Coefficient.

Perfect. (Though you might oughta be a little careful around here, these days -- what with all the Hobbitt nerds hanging around FR.)

[SpinyNorman]

Isn't this the kind of thing the ape-slaves rode in one of the many sequels to the original Planet of the Apes?

[big bad easter bunny]

This unit may not be every thing that "It" was said to have but generations (I mean machine generations)from now it could be pretty cool. When I first read about "It" on Drudge they said it would go 45 miles per hour and be fully GPS integrated and it was to run on hydrogen not batteries. If it did all of those things that it was rumored to do I want one!

[dead]

I could see a new sport being built around these things.

Possibly a variation on that Afghan dead goat game (which totally rocks and just needs to be Americanized slightly by Vince McMahon.)

[Lazamataz]

The only practical use for this technology, that I can think of, is a very versitile robotics transportation platform.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

Not to mention the Segway's warp-9 Dork Coefficient.

Nah! I'll pass! I'm waiting for them to get the transporter up and running.

:~D

[Lokibob]

A whole bunch of points are being missed here. When the personal computer was first proposed at IBM, the forecasted a market of less than 10. LOL

Kaymans business plan calls for the Segway to be introduced by post office employees and police. When the public sees them aboard a Segway, they will want one too.

Go to your local park. Look for the 12-14 year olds. Seems they are already aboard scooters. Give them 5 years, send them to college, and good old dad will be buying a Segway instead of a car.

Granted that at $1.25 a gallon for gas, there isn't a great market for the Segway, but at $3-4/gallon, desire goes way up for the short trips.

A quick and dirty cost benefit analysis ( I admit it is dirty, who knows the maintenance cost) makes the post office recoup the cost of the Segway in 4 years.

Geek factor goes down when everybody is dressed like a geek. Look at back packs.

[FreedomFarmer]

Don't worry.

It'll never be popular until someone figures out how to have sex on it.

[patlaw_guy]

Kamen seems to have forgotten that in most of the country, it rains somewhat often, and it gets cold in the winter. Who wants to pay $3K to drive IT around in the sleet in Chicago in February? And if you're going to brave the elements, you can get an E-Bike today cheaper--it's like a battery-powered moped & it's not a terrible idea. I think that's what Iacocca has been up to lately.

[AStack75]

Not to mention the Segway's warp-9 Dork Coefficient.

That's probably the biggest reason it'll never sell. Do they really think that cops are gonna want to be rolling down the street in one of these chasing a bad guy? I just don't see that ever happening. This conjures up a similar image as it does when I see grown men riding around in those gas-powered scooters.

[Long Cut]

Warp 9 Dork Coefficient! LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!
I love it!
As I posted on a previous thread on the topic, a manufacturer ignores the "Coolness Coefficient" at its peril. A pertinent fact: no tricks can be done on a Seg-gay. Therefore its attractiveness to kids is limited. As for the female-impressing factor, IT has absolutely NO primacy over the Harley-Davidson, the 'Vette, Or my personal favorite, the '68 Shelby GT-500.
I still picture going past a dork on a Seg-gay in/on one of the above, with open pipes roaring, and the lovely blond Mrs. Cut next to me.

[aculeus]

IT may find a market in airports and warehouses but who the heck wants to stand while commuting. Even a bicycle offers the rider a seat!

[Old Professer]

The only power mower I know of that looks remotely like the Segway is the Toro Greensmaster used at golf courses; maybe one of the many "journalists" who insist on using this simile will take a walk in my neighborhood one day, there isn't a two-wheeled mower on the block.

[steve-b]

based on the conventional wisdom that the automobile is a lousy people hauler in urban situations where 80% of the world's population hangs out.

80% of the world's population hangs out where there is no rain or snow, where the sidewalks are wide enough to accomodate both pedestrians and vehicles, and where there are no stairs at the destination? News to me.

[Jhoffa_]

Note to the anti-car Nazis: you'll get my hot rod when you pry the shift knob from my cold, dead fingers.

Bump to that.

[VRWC For Truth]

Top Ten Reasons IT is no substitute for the automobile:

10. No V8 rumble
9. No place to carry golf clubs
8. Can't do donuts on a snowy parking lot
7. You and your buddy riding it would look gay
6. No place to mount the gun rack
5. Bird doo-doo, nuff said
4. Can't bring the keg to the party
3. No prancing horse emblems
2. Can't hot rod it
1. No backseat for makin whoopee

[strela]

The biggest non-story of the year, this. An expensive toy, doomed to gather dust in the game rooms of dilettantes worldwide.

Slap a fuel cell or Stirling engine on the thing, and I might be interested. Until then, don't waste my time.

[Petronski]

...designed to maximize loss of dignity. Bwa ha ha ha ha!