The overwhelming majority opinion over at Fark.com's forums is that if you see someone riding a Segway, you should beat him up and take it away from him. Some people prefer buying a car with $5000.

Posted by: Cheese Witherspoon on November 19, 2002 12:52 PM

---

 

Considering I can buy a scooter with either an electric or fuel driven motor for US$300 or less...why would I buy one of these?

Posted by: JB on November 19, 2002 02:17 PM

---

 

5000$, too high, or correct price? Everyone places the correct priceline where he wants and does what he wants with his money, and this is not the problem.

Segway concept is interesting. The price seems too high to many people, as it often seems for many new concepts when they come to the market. But it might decrease in the next years, if the company sells enough to survive. The segway technology will be improved, and it will perhaps be more accessible, or perhaps not.

Today it's too expensive for many people. Will it be interesting for enough early adopters, ready to pay a fairly high price, to allow segway to continue its operations ? Is there a future for these kind of "individual mobility devices" ? these questions sound more interesting to me. I've no answer.

Posted by: vincent on November 19, 2002 02:32 PM

---

 

As with any new product, it begins at the beginning of the product life cycle. At this stage is cost is prohibitive to all but the early adopters. I don't see this item becoming mainstream (I think that might be stage 3) until the price point is closer to what someone could spend on a very nice motor scooter. The environmental and "cool" factors don't amount to much, I wouldn't say. How many totally battery-powered cars have been sold?

Posted by: boysen on November 19, 2002 02:40 PM

---

 

I don't think it was intended for the average buyer at this stage - I'm surprised Amazon has them for sale. I can see corporations buying them for large campuses where they would be useful to move people around, especially visitors who might have special needs, or for property management companies that have large complexes, etc.

Posted by: Lydia on November 19, 2002 03:46 PM

---

 

Is it just me or does the description sound like the start of Jurrasic Park when they're talking about the equipment used in the park (... no expense was spared)?

Even given it's newness, it still seems outragously expensive and I had to chuckle when I saw they put a limit of two on them.

Posted by: Matt on November 19, 2002 04:20 PM

---

 

Looks like an expensive and ridiculous alternative to walking. British readers will remember Clive Sinclair's C5 that was also intended to revolutionise the way we think about transport, but instead became an object of derision and eventually destroyed Sinclair's company. But who can honestly put their hand on their heart and say that they would not like to have a go - just for a laugh?

Posted by: James Tuddenham on November 20, 2002 01:15 PM

---

 

We're always being told that modern Americans and Europeans have lifestyles which are too sedentary. So, somebody comes up with a gadget which removes the need to walk. And how long before the first court case involving a drunken Segway driver?

Posted by: Alan Fisher on November 21, 2002 11:48 AM

---

 

They were actually hyping these down in Walt Disney World in July 2001. Kind of interesting to see them starting to sell.

Posted by: Matt Rhodes on November 23, 2002 09:23 PM

---

 

I think that segways should cost$2000 dollars to the people, because obviously we are dealing with new technology, but if kids want to save up to actually buy this some day then you would want it to be a reasonable price I mean my friend greg bought a used car for $500 dollars. Hey for all you know this price could be too high, but if I were you I would take a survey on the price like would you rather have the price be around 2000 or 3000.I may only be 11 but I know if something is on the pricey side.

Posted by: julie burbary on November 23, 2002 09:27 PM

---