Segway Launches 2 New Scooters

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/tech/2006/aug/14/081409020.html

Riding on the new version of Segway Inc.'s self-balancing electric scooter is "very similar to skiing," according to the company's chief technology officer.

That's because a new batch of technology in the second generation of the Segway, which was unveiled Monday, allows users to steer the device simply by leaning in the direction they want to go, rather than using a handlebar, said Segway Chief Technology Officer Doug Field.

The new version of the Segway Personal Transporter also comes with a wireless device that lets the user start it by remote control and receive an alert if it has been disturbed while left unattended.

It also has a sleeker, more futuristic design than its predecessor, and a starting retail price of $4,995. A more rugged version meant for off-road use has a starting price of $5,495.

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[Greeby]

1. Don't worry

I'm sure Shrub will figure out how to fall off both of them :eyes:

[Kutjara]

2. There is one tiny difference between using a Segway...

...and skiing. On skis, it's possible to look cool. On a Segway, the best one can hope for is not to be mistaken for Ned Flanders.

[phantom power]

3. Or Niles Crane

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. How much money do they hope to lose for the investors?

[phantom power]

5. The killer flaw in these things is the price. For $5000, I can buy...

Four very high-quality bicycles. And not look like Niles Crane.

[Warpy]

9. BIG killer is the fact that they're not for the handicapped

who wouldn't mind looking like Flanders or Crane if a gizmo afforded them decent mobility without the bulk of most big electric scooters.

These are for the able bodied and that makes them dumb.

[WePurrsevere]

12. In the pic below it doesn't look like it would take much to make them for

the handicapped but the cost is way to rich for my blood and medicare will only consider paying for an electric scooter/chair if you need one ro get around in your home. If you need one so you can go shopping, sightseeing, etc they don't give a rat's furry backside. I guess the ability to socialize and get out of the house now and then is a luxery to them. :grr:

[mike_c]

6. OK, the off-road model just seems silly....

I mean, it would be restricted to relatively level, smooth terrain-- you might be able to go up hills, but only hills that wheels will roll up-- it has a short range (max 12 mi on a full charge), and it negates just about everything pleasant about walking in the woods. Perhaps it might allow off road access to handicapped people, but not the chair-bound and only in groups or with non-handicapped folks, otherwise a failure could be catastrophic. I'll stick with my mountain bike....

[phantom power]

7. Call me a wilderness snob, but this just aint right:

[mike_c]

8. that's probably the sort of guy who'd circle the trail head parking...

...area for half an hour waiting for the best parking spot.

[5X]

11. There is a Curves next door to where I work,

the ladies are often fighting over the closest
parking spot before they go in to exercise.

[jpak]

10. ROFL!!!!!!

!!!!!11111

[Warpy]

13. They'll have to figure out how to put a seat on the sucker

which is what makes it a bust now for handicapped people.

Able bodied people don't need it, the handicapped can't use it and it costs a boody fortune.

Sounds like a winner to me....

[frylock]

14. they'll build entire cities around these..

or not.

[Ready4Change]

15. My story.

I tried one at a demo once. It was fun, but for me, it was a toy, and an expensive one.

But an older guy was trying them at the same demo. He could only walk at a shuffling pace due to some kind of leg stiffeness. As he and his wife walked about you could see she wasn't so hindered, and thus was constantly waiting for him to catch up.

He got on a Segway, and once he figured it out his face just LIT up. You could see him realizing that with this, he could walk with his wife again. He was a changed man on that expensive, stupid toy.

I don't know if you can make a living on that kind of narrow niche market, but it would be nice if you could.

[dcfirefighter]

16. How are these better than a bicycle?

With the possible exception of allowing a 200 person to carry 60 lbs of equipment without fatigue, I see little benefit in these over bicycles. I'd also hate to see these take over sidewalks, while I could better deal with bicycles on sidewalks & in pedestrian areas.


In fairness, I believe the Segway started as a wheelchair, albeit a $29,000 one.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/08/14/stair.climbing.wheelchair.ap/
http://www.independencenow.com/ibot/intro.html?from=ggl