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CNN Live Today

Reinventing the Wheel

Aired November 18, 2002 - 11:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are, having a little fun segment, checking out these Segways. This, we heard about this some months ago. This was the bit "It" thing.
ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is postal workers and a regional commission. Locally, people were -- the big guys were sporting around. But amazon.com, you can go online now and buy your model that you're riding.

KAGAN: And how is this different than what the postal workers and police officers are using?

KELLAN: It's the same width, the same wheelbase, same type of Segway. It's a big guy, and The only difference is the pole. You don't get this, you don't get these bags, and if I get off, it stands up on its own.

KAGAN: This one doesn't.

KELLAN: And that one doesn't, it'll lean.

And you should go on amazon.com site if you are interested, because there are training sessions, and I do think you need a little training. It took you all of two minutes to learn.

KAGAN: Buy I had a very big man named Merritt (ph) who was standing very close to me to make sure I didn't fall on my face.

KELLAN: He's the ambassador for us. We have to thank him for that, that's right.

KAGAN: Thank you to Merritt (ph).

What do they expect people to use this for?

KELLAN: They are saying to commute within five miles. If you have to go to work five miles to work, this would be a good thing.

KAGAN: You ride it on the sidewalk, or in the street?

KELLAN: Thirty one states have approved it on the sidewalk. So if you're in one of those states, you can do that.

You know some businesses may not want you to bring them in. I think there's still questions about what do you do when you get to work, but that's going to take time and the more people who get it, the more they'll get used to seeing them around. So these are the first wave of pioneers who will probably go out. And at $5,000, there probably won't be that many.

KAGAN: Because with the corporate sales and to cities, they then actually sell as many as they expected.

KELLAN: Right, but they said they weren't disappointed. They thought it would take a while for people to get used to them. But I don't think they have any idea what the response is going to be like, $5,000, you have to put $495 down initially when you place the order, and then you get from March to July. Sometimes it goes on a first come, first serve basis, when you actually do get to get a shipment.

KAGAN: You know, speaking of disappointing, I think Leon is kind of disappointed that I didn't completely fall on my face for this segment.

KELLAN: You want to try?

KAGAN: I'm not the first one to learn how to do this. Leon had a turn a few months when that model came out.

KELLAN: That's right. It was pretty easy, wasn't it?

KAGAN: Yes, he did really well, I thought.

KELLAN: I know, when you can really -- it's fun. I think you have to worry about little bumps in the road and going over curbs. That's why I think it's good that you go through some kind of a training process.

KAGAN: Leon, what's happening?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's bringing back some memories.

KAGAN: Yes, that's good.

KELLAN: There are five gyroscopes that balance you, there is 10 computers, so this is quite a machine.

KAGAN: For the man who has everything. Leon, I can tell you, I can kill the suspense right now, this is not what I got you for Christmas.

HARRIS: Geez, when a pal.

KAGAN: Only because, not because you're not worth a $5,000 a gift, only because I couldn't guarantee to have it by Christmas. Otherwise, this would be yours, for sure.

HARRIS: The other cool thing about it, you can look at Ann's model and see, there are actually some pretty neat accessories that come along with it.

KAGAN: You have to pay extra.

KELLAN: Extra for the accessories. Segway.com, you can go online and see some of the accessories. Now for the bag on the consumer model is on the front. You won't have the side bags. You can get a bag on the front.

KAGAN: Ann and I have some cruising to do around the atrium. So we'll see you later.

Bye, Leon.

HARRIS: Grab a burger for me while you're there.

KAGAN: All right.

KELLAN: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 18, 2002 - 11:47   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we are, having a little fun segment, checking out these Segways. This, we heard about this some months ago. This was the bit "It" thing.
ANN KELLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is postal workers and a regional commission. Locally, people were -- the big guys were sporting around. But amazon.com, you can go online now and buy your model that you're riding.

KAGAN: And how is this different than what the postal workers and police officers are using?

KELLAN: It's the same width, the same wheelbase, same type of Segway. It's a big guy, and The only difference is the pole. You don't get this, you don't get these bags, and if I get off, it stands up on its own.

KAGAN: This one doesn't.

KELLAN: And that one doesn't, it'll lean.

And you should go on amazon.com site if you are interested, because there are training sessions, and I do think you need a little training. It took you all of two minutes to learn.

KAGAN: Buy I had a very big man named Merritt (ph) who was standing very close to me to make sure I didn't fall on my face.

KELLAN: He's the ambassador for us. We have to thank him for that, that's right.

KAGAN: Thank you to Merritt (ph).

What do they expect people to use this for?

KELLAN: They are saying to commute within five miles. If you have to go to work five miles to work, this would be a good thing.

KAGAN: You ride it on the sidewalk, or in the street?

KELLAN: Thirty one states have approved it on the sidewalk. So if you're in one of those states, you can do that.

You know some businesses may not want you to bring them in. I think there's still questions about what do you do when you get to work, but that's going to take time and the more people who get it, the more they'll get used to seeing them around. So these are the first wave of pioneers who will probably go out. And at $5,000, there probably won't be that many.

KAGAN: Because with the corporate sales and to cities, they then actually sell as many as they expected.

KELLAN: Right, but they said they weren't disappointed. They thought it would take a while for people to get used to them. But I don't think they have any idea what the response is going to be like, $5,000, you have to put $495 down initially when you place the order, and then you get from March to July. Sometimes it goes on a first come, first serve basis, when you actually do get to get a shipment.

KAGAN: You know, speaking of disappointing, I think Leon is kind of disappointed that I didn't completely fall on my face for this segment.

KELLAN: You want to try?

KAGAN: I'm not the first one to learn how to do this. Leon had a turn a few months when that model came out.

KELLAN: That's right. It was pretty easy, wasn't it?

KAGAN: Yes, he did really well, I thought.

KELLAN: I know, when you can really -- it's fun. I think you have to worry about little bumps in the road and going over curbs. That's why I think it's good that you go through some kind of a training process.

KAGAN: Leon, what's happening?

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: That's bringing back some memories.

KAGAN: Yes, that's good.

KELLAN: There are five gyroscopes that balance you, there is 10 computers, so this is quite a machine.

KAGAN: For the man who has everything. Leon, I can tell you, I can kill the suspense right now, this is not what I got you for Christmas.

HARRIS: Geez, when a pal.

KAGAN: Only because, not because you're not worth a $5,000 a gift, only because I couldn't guarantee to have it by Christmas. Otherwise, this would be yours, for sure.

HARRIS: The other cool thing about it, you can look at Ann's model and see, there are actually some pretty neat accessories that come along with it.

KAGAN: You have to pay extra.

KELLAN: Extra for the accessories. Segway.com, you can go online and see some of the accessories. Now for the bag on the consumer model is on the front. You won't have the side bags. You can get a bag on the front.

KAGAN: Ann and I have some cruising to do around the atrium. So we'll see you later.

Bye, Leon.

HARRIS: Grab a burger for me while you're there.

KAGAN: All right.

KELLAN: All right.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com