Since every website and news outlet seems to be awash with reports of the "revolutionary" Ginger/IT (henceforth officially known as Segway) transportation device, I feel obliged to throw in my $.02.

Pros:
- Environmentally friendly
- Easy to ride
- Intuitive controls and interface
- Inventive use of gyroscopic balancing system could benefit many future devices.


Cons:
- Chunky PlaySkool appearance
- 75 lbs!
- Top speed of only 12.5 MPH (slower than an electric Zappy)
- $3,500-4000!


Call me jaded, but I simply don't see the Segway heralding in a new era of human mobility. I mean c'mon, $4,000? Around these parts $4,000 will buy you a whole lot more transportation that's a whole lot more practical than the Segway. A $4,000 investment should at least buy you enough oomph to be able to cross a bridge. Not only that, but watching the videos on the Segway site, I can almost see the American population becoming more out of shape and more obnoxious (imagine your first experience almost getting mowed down on a public sidewalk by a Segway riding fool chatting it up on his/her cell phone). How 'bout we promote something with positive health benefits and zero environmental impact like biking, or even walking for that matter.

Neat idea. Neat use of technology. Just not what I'd call revolutionary - more like a solution looking for a problem. Wake me up when the personal VTOL hovercraft or jet packs are ready.