[thechat] IT is here!

[Norman Bunn]

In the southern US, we use another device for this that costs less than 
$200.  We call it a bicycle.

Norman

At 02:29 AM 12/4/2001, you wrote:
>http://www.segway.com.edgesuite.net/
>
><quoted from another email>
>
>THAT'S IT!
>Touting it as an environmentally friendly alternative to cars, inventor 
>Dean Kamen finally unveiled his mysterious creation to the world this 
>morning.  The gizmo -- which has gone by the codenames "IT" and "Ginger," 
>but will be marketed under the more prosaic "Segway Human Transporter" -- 
>turns out to be a one-person, two-wheeled, battery-powered scooter that 
>looks something like a push lawnmower.  Kamen said the Segway "will be to 
>the car what the car was to the horse-and-buggy," adding that it "makes no 
>sense at all for people in cities to use a 4,000-pound piece of metal to 
>haul their 150-pound asses around town."  The 65-pound Segway can attain 
>speeds of 12 miles per hour; the battery charge lasts about 15 miles, at 
>about 10 cents a charge.  The machine apparently handles snow, ice, and 
>stairs with ease.  Cost?  $3,000 a pop.  The U.S. Postal Service and 
>Amazon.com are among the first customers.