SlashNOT

Michael writes: As Amazon.com begins selling the revolutionary Segway Human Transporter this week, companies in the US and across the world are rushing to develop competing transportation devices that just might be able to give the Segway a run for its money.

“Our product weighs less than half the Segway’s 65 lbs,” says one manufacturer, “is entirely human-powered, and is legal on city streets.” Best of all, its price tag is under $400, compared to the Segway’s $4950 price tag, and it can go twice as fast. It’s already available, and so are products from several competitors.

These companies might have a tough sell ahead, though. Thirty units of the Segway HT will be shipped by this Christmas and the rest will be delivered by next August at a shipping cost of only $99. Segway may have the market cornered, at least until other companies start shipping their four-wheeled motorized models.