TIME magazine Lists the Segway as "Top Ten worst Tech failures..."

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

I think the fact that Apple has the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, and 24th most popular laptops on Amazon begs to differ.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/pc/565108

And the 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 18th, and 23rd most popular desktops.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers...f=pd_ts_pc_nav

While the "market share" (there are a number of flaws with that statistic) is less than 10%, Apple's "dollar share" is nearly 35% of the laptop market and 25% of the total PC market.

Thanks Sean.

We could also look at quarterly profits compared to other brands that "have market share", especially Asus...

units sold/market share != profit

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by JesseK

With the way the article rates everything, I'm surprised that something like the MacBook, or actually most of Apple's computer product line, isn't on there. Apple doesn't necessarily bleed cash because of their products, but they come close due to the extremely low market share and a continuously mediocre product (and the only thing they're doing is throwing cash at it via advertising...worst idea ever...).

By that logic, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Maserati, Aston Martin, and Porsche an epic failures. After all, combined these companies have less market share than Apple does.

What are these companies thinking? Constantly throwing millions of dollars into research for cars barely anyone drives. Pfft, amateurs.

[Dan Petrovic]

Poor Segway... even though it didn't meet expectations, they're still really cool and the company still exists, so there's still a place for Segways, but it's not an urban environment.

The PUMA doesn't look too promising either. I can tell you right now that those things aren't going to be cheap. I have a feeling that they will sell for more than some brand-new cars. At least they didn't hype the living daylights out of it.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

But let me pose this question to you all:
What difference does Segway have than every other product on the list?
No real competition.
I think we can all name some other competing product in every one of those product's fields that are more popular (and thus more profitable) on that list.

Can you do the same with Segway?
What is equal in a consumer product to a Segway at this point in time?
Who is Segway's major rival?
When you have a unique product, you would love to see your product thrive, but you don't mind if it doesn't since you have the market cornered.

But what company or product over-powered Segway in the market of providing the consumer a self balancing (electro-mechanical) people transporter?

The answer is nothing compares, nor competes with it currently.
So it's ridiculous to even put Segway on the list in my opinion.

I'm sorry to report that some people DO think Segway has a competitor. As I learned last week, the Sacramento International Airport just purchased a couple of T-3's. When I first saw this on the news, I thought they were modified Segways. And if you look at the "Customer Comments" page, they include quotes such as these:

"We’re replacing the Segway we use because this is more stable. It can get up and over curbs..."

"Stability is the main thing. This one uses an accelerator on the handlebars, as opposed to the Segway, which relies on body weight..."

Although it has 3 wheels instead of 2--and if I remember correctly, it costs even more than the Segway--functionally it does about the same thing (at least, in the context of police use). I think people still don't "get" the self-balancing concept of the Segway. Most people are more comfortable with the idea of a tricycle--after all, we rode them when we were little kids.

Furthermore, for police use, if an officer has to step off either of these, say, to apprehend a suspect, which is more likely to stay put--the Segway, or the T-3? In my experience, the Segway won't. Also, the weight limits are more realistic for police officers, who are often heavier than the Segway was designed for. The T-3 is slightly faster than the Segway, which may be an advantage in police work. The T-3 has integrated lighting; you have to pay extra to get a headlight for a Segway, which is inconvenient if you need to ride at night. The customer can choose from 6 colors (the Segway has only 3), and it has a swappable power module (which enables the T-3 to operate 24 hours).

So I have to say that apparently the Segway does have competition, though we could debate whether the differences are similar to the Apple/PC differences in scope. (I.e., the Apple and the PC have different platforms, but both are computers for individual use; the Segway and T-3 have different configurations, but both are personal motorized transportation devices.) We will also have to wait to see which, if either, of these devices will have any long-term place in society.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by KarenH

I'm sorry to report that some people DO think Segway has a competitor. As I learned last week, the Sacramento International Airport just purchased a couple of T-3's. When I first saw this on the news, I thought they were modified Segways. And if you look at the "Customer Comments" page, they include quotes such as these:

"We’re replacing the Segway we use because this is more stable. It can get up and over curbs..."

"Stability is the main thing. This one uses an accelerator on the handlebars, as opposed to the Segway, which relies on body weight..."

Although it has 3 wheels instead of 2--and if I remember correctly, it costs even more than the Segway--functionally it does about the same thing (at least, in the context of police use). I think people still don't "get" the self-balancing concept of the Segway. Most people are more comfortable with the idea of a tricycle--after all, we rode them when we were little kids.

Furthermore, for police use, if an officer has to step off either of these, say, to apprehend a suspect, which is more likely to stay put--the Segway, or the T-3? In my experience, the Segway won't. Also, the weight limits are more realistic for police officers, who are often heavier than the Segway was designed for. The T-3 is slightly faster than the Segway, which may be an advantage in police work. The T-3 has integrated lighting; you have to pay extra to get a headlight for a Segway, which is inconvenient if you need to ride at night. The customer can choose from 6 colors (the Segway has only 3), and it has a swappable power module (which enables the T-3 to operate 24 hours).

So I have to say that apparently the Segway does have competition, though we could debate whether the differences are similar to the Apple/PC differences in scope. (I.e., the Apple and the PC have different platforms, but both are computers for individual use; the Segway and T-3 have different configurations, but both are personal motorized transportation devices.) We will also have to wait to see which, if either, of these devices will have any long-term place in society.

It looks like it's going to kill someone and take up half of a sidewalk. Great.

Originally Posted by JesseK

With the way the article rates everything, I'm surprised that something like the MacBook, or actually most of Apple's computer product line, isn't on there. Apple doesn't necessarily bleed cash because of their products, but they come close due to the extremely low market share and a continuously mediocre product (and the only thing they're doing is throwing cash at it via advertising...worst idea ever...).

Hate to bring this back but....

Dell Quateryly Down 63%
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/te...ref=technology

comparatively...

Apple Shows Best March Quarter Revenue In History
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/04/22results.html

You're argument is one of the worst I've seen, besides "my room mate has a Zune so it's not a failure! And I have a Gateway too!" kid...

[EricH]

Joe, make sure you also look at HP, Toshiba, Compaq, Gateway (in their new name), and the other companies that make Windows computers. Looking at one as a case in point does almost nothing. One data point does not a proof make.

[oddjob]

There is a (apparently) small group of people for whom the Segway is valuable. For the rest, a bicycle is superior, and even there, the new electric bicycles with motors in the hub solve at least one of the same problems as the Segway - power assist. The whole "balancing on side by side wheels" thing is cool looking but offers little to no value for most, increases width which is a disadvantage in urban areas, and consumers have spoken with their locked wallets.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by EricH

Joe, make sure you also look at HP, Toshiba, Compaq, Gateway (in their new name), and the other companies that make Windows computers. Looking at one as a case in point does almost nothing. One data point does not a proof make.

As I stated earlier, Asus has had the same sorts of losses and have made a market share grab with their low margin, or loss leading, netbooks. HP = Compaq, Toshiba makes more than computers, and I haven't followed up on Gateway at all, but I will.