What do you think of the Seqway?

I like the fact that it's faster than walking (sometimes I could *really* use that... late to class anyone?) and really safe - safer than riding a bike through a big crowd of people.

But for $5000 I won't be getting one until I make my first million.

Nice if you have money.

but it's big.. Actually the obese thing.. segways have a weight limit of like 180 or 200 so that counts everyone out. (lol.. including me)

but I don't need a segway.. I can run if I'm in a hurry to go somewhere (being that I can run a mile in just under 8 mins), and walk rather fast

I don't think Steve Wozniak is under 200lbs and he has one.

I remember George dubya having a problem with it, think he fell of it, or was incapable of using one. I guess it might be ok for the rest of us.

1 yay and 12 nay so far in the poll.

Sounds about right.

Segway was such a disappointment. I was thinking, "if 'IT' doesn't fly or hover or something, I'm not going to be impressed." And I wasn't.

If that was the case it would be a lawn chair on wheels with a 6 cylinder engine and come with a Foam Dome.

How is riding a bike through a crowd unsafe ?

Lol, I like that idea of flying.

Naw, lots of people have problems with them at first. Then they get used to it.

If you don't have a very good sense of balance or aren't too careful (hehe I am a very safe bike rider I think you can tell)

I thought it was a little cheezy, then I got to ride around on one.....

I have no use for one here in VT, but I think if I lived anywhere else, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Quote:

I remember George dubya having a problem with it, think he fell of it, or was incapable of using one. I guess it might be ok for the rest of us.

The genius forgot to hit the "on" switch before stepping on, so the gyroscopes weren't activated and it simply fell forward.

The weight limit of the "i" model is 250 lbs. The cargo model, I forget what it's called exactly, has a weight limit of 325 (75 lbs. for cargo).

There's a great book out now called "Code Name Ginger," by Steve Kemper. It's the story of the development of the Segway and Dean Kamen's personal story. It's one of the best non-aviation-related books I've ever read... Until they get into Kamen's politics, which make me admire him less.

I like it. It is deliciously ridiculous. And also completely useless here in the UK...

I would not be able to ride it anywhere as you are not allowed to ride it on the pavement, or on the road, or in buildings... pretty much anywhere.

I would be limited to riding around my living room or up and down my drive... both of which are really too small.

But if I had the money I would still buy one...

At best it's a toy, only if it's cheaper.

it doesn't help you to get from point A to point B faster, nor more efficiently in any sense. A bicycle is basically a "smarter" choice to travel. i mean, if you need to climb a stair, at least you can carry your bike on your shoulder.

Forget about those fancy technologies... the major function of that HT thing is to allow you to cover a short distance in a lazier fashion. Period.

Well, they are kind of cheesy. I don't think I'd look to sexy on one.

I'd rather walk anyway. Or bike.

.z

Going fast, easy to tip, people jumping out in front of you, reaction time, etc. The Segway will automatically compensate for any unexpected bumps or run-ins with people. No tipping, either.

I'm surprised by the outlash against the thing here on a technology-related message board, though. I'm surprised more people wouldn't be, "Boy, I'd love to tool around in one!" I'm certainly not buying it, but it seems like it'd be pretty fun to ride around in.

Apparently Dean Kamen didn't do enough market research...

Basically, we're all thinking the Segway is a solution with no problem. The device has no real point.

.z

Goodness... *smacks head* it stupifies me... yes STOOPIFIES me waking up every day and realizing that he's our president.

<bitter resentment> Hey what do you expect from the majority of Americans? They elected him. My neighbor gives a funny reason for voting for him: "I didn't understand what Gore was talking about, Bush laid it out simple." Something to that effect at least...

After all, doesn't the elected President represent the majority of his people?
</bitter resentment>

this comment should probably go into the political forum... but hey, couldn't help myself.

Technically, more people didn't vote for Bush, but more states did. One of those little electoral college issues. If we didn't have the electoral college, NOBODY from Alaska, Road Island, etc. etc. would even bother voting...

With out the electoral college, we might as well have Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York and California just have an election and forget about the other states.

dp

oh look. politics.



.z

Have you learned nothing from the 2000 election? If votes from winner-take-all-electoral-votes were counted for the candidate, Al Gore, the guy with more votes nationwide, would have won. If I vote for a Democratic presidential candidate in my state, which historically always votes Republican for President, my vote counts towards nothing, since the majority winner will get all my state's (very few, but still count) electoral votes.

My point was that little states would have very little say in the president we have in office if we did it via 'winner takes all' method. The big states would really make the decision.

It's all the little states that gave Bush the presidency.

Not flaming... just found it interesting...

Little states....like Texas? Florida? Virginia?

On-topic:

I was actually surprised at the backlash against Segway when it was first introduced. It was almost like nobody could see just how amazing it was. I saw it a lot like the iPod; at first, everyone was like, "What? An mp3 player? What the sh*t is that!?!" Then we all came to appreciate just how amazing it was.

Yes, the Segway is just a scooter. But it's also the most technologically advanced scooters on the planet. The stuff inside it will no doubt have a very lasting effect on technology for years to come. If a Segway cost under $500 or even $1000 I bet a ton of people would have them. It's just a shame they're so damn expensive.

Off-topic:

Well, sure, the little states wouldn't have as much say as the big states, but the point of a popular vote system is that this doesn't matter. One person from Alaska has exactly as much say as someone from New York. I don't see how you can say how big a state is has anything to do with an election under this system.

I see it as a check and balance. We have a house of representatives (population based) and a senate (state based) This way, the large states don't take control, yet popular demand hears an equal voice.

I'm not arguing that a "equal votes for all" system wouldn't be much simpler, but I also see why they don't have that system. If five states could essentially create a president that favored large states. That can still happen now, but it would be more difficult.

Back on topic:

I still stand by the "The Segway is UGLY and designed specifically for the physically challenged and nerd population"