[ThomasTuttle]

Has anyone else noticed that there is an odd lack of Segways running around the Granite State Regional? Only two years ago (my first year at FIRST), the regional was overrun with DEKA employees and other people on Segways--I got to try one after nagging someone for 2-3 hours that just because VIP's get demos, it doesn't mean FIRST students can't use them in between and just let the VIP's cut the line. I also got to have a really interesting talk with one of the developers of the Segway about what happens when they don't have a speed limiter. ;-)

However, I've noticed that there are very few running around this year, only about two. Has the novelty worn off? Did the people who run the regionals say they didn't want as many of them running around?

And even Dean didn't have a Segway! I asked him, "Dean, where's your Segway?!" (increduously, since he usually has one), and he said, "Oh, I left it at the office" with a laugh. It used to be such a "thing" at FIRST competitions but it's not anymore. What happened?

On a related note, has anyone else seen the new Segways? (the i Series now comes in red, yellow, and midnight blue, and they added two new more useful models, the XT [an all-terrain-ish model with 7-inch-wide tires and big splash guard things] and the GT, basically an i Series with a golf bag holder) They look pretty nice, and they also have a choice of types of battery (NiMH, $4500, or LiIon, $5000 on the i Series). Thoughts?