I hear that complaint from a lot from Windows users. But I don't think it's justified. I think the article's publisher is merely hyping the snob angle as a marketing ploy to drive click-through to his Linux-help blog. Nearly ever so-called Linux snob I've ever met has been an ex-Windows snob. If Linux users were such snobs why is there so much free documentation written by Linux users @ http://www.tldp.org/? Did I also mention the article's blog hypes a Linux help book?
I'm also surprised by strong negativity towards the Segway. I guess a
lot of Slashdoter don't walk a great deal. I personally prefer walking to any
other forms of transportation. But I have to admit that after an hour or two it
gets old. If I'm really pushing it I can do about 4 MPH walking. I think that's
average for most adults. I love riding bikes too. If traffic is not too heavy
and the average auto traffic is below 40 MPH. Lastly come public transit and
then autos. PT often fails me due to poor scheduling. With autos, the costs
associated with owning and operating them to me are excessive, (gas, insurance,
parking, taxi fares, etc).
I immediately see the benefits of owning or having access to a Segway.
Especially in an congested urban area like Chicago where there's a lot to see
and do in a rather small area. I would like being among other people on the
sidewalks rather than being in the street dodging cars on bike or on a bus,
taxi, car.
The reason I mentioned Chicago is because I really like modern architecture
and photographing them. I very leery about transporting good camera equipment
(even a laptop) on a bike due to the high amounts of vibration they produce. In
one small area there are forty-five
important buildings and landmarks with a 2.5 sq/mile area. WOW! With a
Segway you could visit each one in a single day. Plus with the 8 inches of
additional height the Segway adds to your standing height and gyro stabilization
it would make a great tripod.
And what about those multi-acre trade fairs like Comdex?
Imagine all the vendor-ware you could collect with one of these! If I were
Segway & Co. I would rent them out at large shows like this to geeks like me
for $$. It would be like those carts you rent at airports. Hmmm, airports!/?
Another Slashdoter mentioned theme parks like DisneyWorld as a good example. But
I think just about all tourist scenarios could benefit.
Think about the benefits to shorter heighted women and men? 8" of added
standing height with the Segway could really help their confidence interacting
with taller people or reaching things on high store shelves.
I would own or rent one as needed if it were available today without
question. I can easily justify the benefits of a $3000.00 Segway in contrast to
another $3000.00 laptop. I can see the satire of poking fun at
"IT." Yet when I look at all of the ancillary products and services the
auto industry created (parking meters, parking lots, paved roads, filling
stations, etc) I easily see why the Segway is a revolutionary innovation.
Slashdot Mirror
I hear that complaint from a lot from Windows users. But I don't think it's justified. I think the article's publisher is merely hyping the snob angle as a marketing ploy to drive click-through to his Linux-help blog. Nearly ever so-called Linux snob I've ever met has been an ex-Windows snob. If Linux users were such snobs why is there so much free documentation written by Linux users @ http://www.tldp.org/? Did I also mention the article's blog hypes a Linux help book?
I'm also surprised by strong negativity towards the Segway. I guess a lot of Slashdoter don't walk a great deal. I personally prefer walking to any other forms of transportation. But I have to admit that after an hour or two it gets old. If I'm really pushing it I can do about 4 MPH walking. I think that's average for most adults. I love riding bikes too. If traffic is not too heavy and the average auto traffic is below 40 MPH. Lastly come public transit and then autos. PT often fails me due to poor scheduling. With autos, the costs associated with owning and operating them to me are excessive, (gas, insurance, parking, taxi fares, etc). I immediately see the benefits of owning or having access to a Segway. Especially in an congested urban area like Chicago where there's a lot to see and do in a rather small area. I would like being among other people on the sidewalks rather than being in the street dodging cars on bike or on a bus, taxi, car. The reason I mentioned Chicago is because I really like modern architecture and photographing them. I very leery about transporting good camera equipment (even a laptop) on a bike due to the high amounts of vibration they produce. In one small area there are forty-five important buildings and landmarks with a 2.5 sq/mile area. WOW! With a Segway you could visit each one in a single day. Plus with the 8 inches of additional height the Segway adds to your standing height and gyro stabilization it would make a great tripod. And what about those multi-acre trade fairs like Comdex? Imagine all the vendor-ware you could collect with one of these! If I were Segway & Co. I would rent them out at large shows like this to geeks like me for $$. It would be like those carts you rent at airports. Hmmm, airports!/? Another Slashdoter mentioned theme parks like DisneyWorld as a good example. But I think just about all tourist scenarios could benefit. Think about the benefits to shorter heighted women and men? 8" of added standing height with the Segway could really help their confidence interacting with taller people or reaching things on high store shelves.
I would own or rent one as needed if it were available today without question. I can easily justify the benefits of a $3000.00 Segway in contrast to another $3000.00 laptop. I can see the satire of poking fun at "IT." Yet when I look at all of the ancillary products and services the auto industry created (parking meters, parking lots, paved roads, filling stations, etc) I easily see why the Segway is a revolutionary innovation.