6 ms·

Really? I can't believe they missed the obvious: "You have a product so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling it. The question is, are people going to

by nzmsv 17y ago

Really? I can't believe they missed the obvious: "You have a product so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling it. The question is, are people going to be allowed to use it?" That's Segway's problem right there. Just because something is revolutionary, doesn't mean it will sell. These business giants made the exact same mistake we all make - assume other people will get as excited as we are.

CamperBob 17y ago
"You have a product so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling it. The question is, are people going to be allowed to use it?" Are we talking about the Segway, or the iPad?
teye 17y ago
The obvious? I side with pg. "Too lazy to walk, ya fuckin homo?" http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html
- jordyhoyt 17y ago
  That's... not exactly a quote, now is it?
  - akgerber 17y ago
    It should have been written "'Too lazy to walk, ya fuckin' homo?'" Although I'm not entirely sure of his conclusion that bike-like styling would be a solution to this problem. Plenty of us get the occasional homophobic insults from jagoff motorists. On that topic, I think another reason the Segway wasn't very successful is that it has few compelling advantages over a $300 bike-- it has the same speed, has a lower range and is harder to refuel, doesn't fit in that well with existing infrastructure, and doesn't get you exercise. The only upside I can think of is that, because you aren't exercising, you don't sweat (slow down riding your bike or take a shower!) and that it's high-tech.
    - ido 17y ago
      It also doesn't require effort and people are lazy.
  - Zev 17y ago
    Its not a quote made by pg, but, it is a quote from his essay. Its a short essay (likely under 400 words), worth reading, if only for the context.
davi 17y ago
They didn't miss the obvious. I think in your quote they're talking about legal obstacles to widespread adoption. Then the next paragraph, Jobs and Bezos make your point: Jobs said he lived seven minutes from a grocery and wasn't sure he would use Ginger to get there. Bezos agreed.

by nzmsv 17y ago

CamperBob 17y ago

"You have a product so revolutionary, you'll have no problem selling it. The question is, are people going to be allowed to use it?" Are we talking about the Segway, or the iPad?

teye 17y ago

The obvious? I side with pg. "Too lazy to walk, ya fuckin homo?" http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html http://www.paulgraham.com/segway.html

jordyhoyt 17y ago
That's... not exactly a quote, now is it?
- akgerber 17y ago
  It should have been written "'Too lazy to walk, ya fuckin' homo?'" Although I'm not entirely sure of his conclusion that bike-like styling would be a solution to this problem. Plenty of us get the occasional homophobic insults from jagoff motorists. On that topic, I think another reason the Segway wasn't very successful is that it has few compelling advantages over a $300 bike-- it has the same speed, has a lower range and is harder to refuel, doesn't fit in that well with existing infrastructure, and doesn't get you exercise. The only upside I can think of is that, because you aren't exercising, you don't sweat (slow down riding your bike or take a shower!) and that it's high-tech.
  - ido 17y ago
    It also doesn't require effort and people are lazy.
- Zev 17y ago
  Its not a quote made by pg, but, it is a quote from his essay. Its a short essay (likely under 400 words), worth reading, if only for the context.

davi 17y ago

They didn't miss the obvious. I think in your quote they're talking about legal obstacles to widespread adoption. Then the next paragraph, Jobs and Bezos make your point: Jobs said he lived seven minutes from a grocery and wasn't sure he would use Ginger to get there. Bezos agreed.