01-13-2010, 09:14 AM | #11 | |
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Looking forward to an official announcement. How long will it be before it makes the news? I'm certain the timing is related, as Bob suggested, to the UK consultation taking place. These things don't happen overnight so the move has probably been in the pipeline for a while. Where does Dean Kamen sit in all of this? Does he still retain any ownership? Anyone know?
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01-13-2010, 12:01 PM | #12 |
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Maybe it is not the Segway Product that they were going after
If you look at Jimmy's bio, he is a mining guy. Mining folks don't want stand up Segways, what they want is robotic platforms that can do the work that humans can't.
So my take is he bought Inc. for the techonology, specifically the RMP side of the house. Which we as Segway users took very little notice of. Though a few of our friendly dealers were actively working with RMP customers. My take is RMP is the product, as well as the technology where the new company will focus its energy, and the PT will take a back seat, and it will not be long before it is discontinued. Stuff like the Puma will go over to GM and they have no interest in a stand up single user PT.
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01-13-2010, 12:26 PM | #13 |
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wow what a shame if the segway goes away...that would be a sad day....
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01-13-2010, 12:36 PM | #14 | |
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My guess is it will probably be a few months before we see any serious changes, if any. It will take a while to "see what they have got" and make any changes they consider necessary.
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01-13-2010, 12:43 PM | #15 | |
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01-13-2010, 03:03 PM | #16 | |
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A guy like that
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As Nick stated his defense contracts are an important part of the equation. They would benefit from the RMP, as that is the prime market at the moment for the RMP. Inc. recently said they are focusing on their core PT market, which is commercial security and police use of the PT. I think we will see the consumer or leisure market become less of a focus to the company. The consumer is the one who wants to see the price drop. While the other markets will endure a higher price better. In the short run (1st quarter) as PT's, and the key parts to them are in short supply, it should be interesting to see what happens and how the existing dealers react.
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Will W Hopper DCSEG Washington, DC, U.S.A. |
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01-13-2010, 03:47 PM | #17 |
Glides a lot, talks more...
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I love my segway, and I like the people I know at the company, but I still think the technology is sound, on its own...
Sure, there will be changes, but the concept has legs, so to speak. At this point, with the economy as it is, and with the less than stirling (Spelling is purposeful) Sales record to consumers, it very well not be the time to make a successful company from this product… That does not mean that the product is faulty, or that it will not survive… I have said for a long time, when I consider the SUV my wife drives, and my 6 year old daughter… By the time my daughter is my age of 50, what do we think she will more likely use to do light errands around the neighborhood? A device like my wife’s SUV, or a device like my segway? When Galileo used his telescope to prove his points about the earth orbiting around the sun, instead of the other way around, he was not met with overwhelming acceptance… He was many many years ahead of his time… It did not make him wrong, just in the wrong time. As far as I know, eventually, common knowledge caught up with his ideas, and the facts are the facts, and the earth orbits the sun, not the other way around… The segway is a viable concept. It will survive, I believe… What form I cannot say for sure. But it is not really going anywhere…
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01-13-2010, 03:57 PM | #18 |
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Hearing Will say the Segway PT will take a back seat made me smile (any pun intended?) but then discontinued - it made my heart skip (okay, not really, but you know what I mean).
I'm not so sure on the huge potential of RMP sales as the primary basis for the business. Out of all sales, I would guess RMP has racked up the least, the commercial sector the most and the consumer sector somewhere in the middle. In terms of Segway UK's desire to see the product made legal here, how would this support the idea of RMP being the driver - when most applications of RMP will not be out on the pavement or on a public highway? So my guess on this is that the prices will fall in the UK. Segways will become legal as EPVs on the road and cycle lanes in 2010, and sales will increase across the board (in the UK). I'm not so sure at this point why things in other countries would change at all - but time will tell. Looking forward to seeing this all pan out.
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01-13-2010, 05:53 PM | #19 | |
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However, you are mistaken in thinking that only consumer/leisure markets want better pricing. Commercial and police markets perform cost analyses and compare Segs to other forms of transport. I think you naysayers are far too negative about the situation. Somebody bought Segway, Inc. This means the company was willing to be purchased. Generally, company management does not give up it's seat unless there is a good reason. Consequently, I conclude that being purchased is a good thing, and better than the alternative. What makes you think PT's and parts are in short supply? |
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01-13-2010, 05:54 PM | #20 |
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There isn't any special "segway battery technology" that I'm aware of. Valance makes their Safion batteries which are not prone to thermal runaway (exploding), but they are hardly the only game in town when it comes to safe lithium-based batteries. In fact, A123 seems to be the name I hear everwhere when I hear about safe lithium ion batteries for transportation applications.
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