Segway

[phatcat 0]

I was just checking these Segway thingys out on Amazon. I swear the people behind this thing are on crack or something. 5 grand??? Sure, a few people will buy one for the novelty of it but come ON????? For $5000 you can buy a 4 wheeler that will plow over way more shit than that thing will. It certainly is a very interesting concept - I'll give them that- but I predict some very broke people in the near future.

(For the record, I WOULD like to try one!)

[Gawain 0]

I agree completely...they look dorky too...

edit to add: The price of this thing is about 300 jumps in the summertime...no way!!

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[wlie 0]

Why spend $5000 when you could get away with a $99 razor scooter? And for $99, I'd still get a skateboard

My other ride is the relative wind.

[yardhippie 0]

for 5K ill walk and buy a 2nd rig! Or go out to Eloy for a couple weeks!

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[riddler 0]

They are way overpriced, but I saw them in their test market in Atlanta - cops and postal carriers were using them earlier this year. I thought they were very cool, but they were only supposed to be $3,500 then, and I thought even that was too much for one. You can buy a pretty nice used car for $5000. I think Kaman is going to target them at government first, and hopefully the cost will come down - I think a good target price would be $1500.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[wlie 0]

$1500 is still too expensive for a single occupancy vehicle. I saw a used Ford Festiva for $950. That should let me pick up my date after a long night delivering pizzas.

My other ride is the relative wind.

[skreamer 1]

1. They don't run on petrol.
2. They cost VERY little to operate.

They have a range of 17 miles. So, if your commute is less than that, not only will they save you time (riding on the pavement as opposed to stuck in traffic) but in the long run will actually save you money (they cost a couple of cents per day to run).

In London the average speed of traffic is 5mph, a lot of other cities worldwide have congestion problems too. I could definitely see a market for these doodahs.

Will

[PhillyKev 0]

One of the big plusses of them is they won't tip over. Pretty amazing, it will always stay upright due to some kind of gyroscope that keeps it constantly balanced. The guy who invented it previously invented a wheel chair that climbs stairs using the same technology.

Their main purpose is for city use. The big problem I see with them is they are too heavy/bulky to take inside a store with you, etc. And who wants to leave something that can easily be carted off and costs $5000 on the sidewalk?

[skreamer 1]

Quote

Their main purpose is for city use.

Exactly! And the biggest problems in cities is in peak time when people are driving to and from work. As long as there is room for them on the pavements/sidewalks then I am sure there will be a market for them.

Personally I would prefer to cycle to work, since it is only 7 miles. But, there are no showers at work, the streets here are not cyclist friendly and you can't ride on the pavements.

I can also see a market for people who are slightly disabled (ie don't need a wheelchair but don't have full use of their legs either).

Will

[falxori 0]

1. it is an awesome toy.
2. i'd like to have almost anything this guy invents (you should check out his house...)

about the price,
first they'll sell it to everyone who is willing to spend 5G on it.
then to everyone that will spend 4G , then 3G and so on...
healthy market strategy, although i'll wait until they sell it to people who will spend 100$ , because thats all i have at the moment

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."

[Iflyme 0]

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I saw a used Ford Festiva for $950.

Maybe you kinda missed the whole point. We need to stop driving vehicles that burn fossil fuels. The pollution they cause kills tens of thousands of people each year.

[narcimund 0]

I've thought about these and decided my acceptable price point is $500. That's what it's worth to me and I'm excited for when I can buy one for that. In the meantime it's too pricey for the value it offers me.

I think of it as a replacement for a bicycle, not a car. It serves much the same purpose as a bike, which is short distance hops. Cars are terrible for short hops and mostly I just walk.

First Class Citizen Twice Over

[falxori 0]

Quote

As long as there is room for them on the pavements/sidewalks then I am sure there will be a market for them

if i remember correctly, some cities won't allow them on sidewalks.
i guess the key to its success is whether it will have a dedicated lane, like bicycles in some places.
all thats missing is few lawsuits be pedestrians that were ran over by a dorky scooter...

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero."

[narcimund 0]

Quote

all thats missing is few lawsuits be pedestrians that were ran over by a dorky scooter...

I don't think it's as easy to get rid of them as that. Bicycles are still around just fine, thank you.

People generally overestimate the power lawsuits have.

First Class Citizen Twice Over