Thoughts Regarding SegwayFest 2004

[Florida Ever-Glides]

I will be posting my impressions later tonight. I'd like to hear more from everyone else as well...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[woodenapple]

My most lasting impressions:

- Seeing sooo many Segways not only mixing with each other inside crowded hotel hallways, but also mixing with unaware hotel guests on foot, without causing any problems or even causing any concern. This proves to me that when segways become much more common, they won't crowd people off of sidewalks, or even cause inconveniences.

- Seeing all the mods and accessories that people have on their Segways. They didn't all just look alike, so it wasn't hard to find your own Segway parked among dozens of others.

- Seeing the real-time assembly of a P with engineering and design explanations along the way. I thought I already realized how much went into the design of the Segway, but I was impressed all over again with how thoroughly and how well it was done.

- No matter how many times I hear Dean Kamen speak, it is always inspiring. He always makes me want to do more to help solve world problems.

- Attending so many sessions that showed how and where Segway use is expanding: Port Hurron, France/Keolis, International Bussiness presentation, etc.

- Hearing so many examples of how Segways are helping people. Not only people with disabilities, but how Segways are being used in so many different situations to solve different needs.

- This one is just personal, but it was great to get away for a long weekend and spend some time with my teenage son doing something we are both passionate about.

- Not wanting to leave, and hoping that there is a Fest next year that will work out for my whole family to attend. (During summer while school is out would make that more feasible for my family and others.)

Rodney

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Everything was GREAT!!! The people, the events, the forums, the every night 'glides', the resort, and most of all the people who worked their ***'s off to make sure we all had a great time. My hats off to Matt, Jim, and especially Chandra, and their family/associates who made sure that each and every one of us got the most out of our Segway Fest experience.

The LLC people were all nice and polite but you never saw them participating in any of the 'fun' events like night glides and so forth. I never really got to know any of them because they seemed to keep a distance from many of us. I was also a little disturbed when I heard from a very reliable source that LLC had instructed their dealers NOT to participate on the SegwayChat site. That would be a loss for everyone. And, maybe that's why I sensed the 'distance' during the Fest. Hey, Janey & I had a great time.

I did experience the 'banquet bugs' like everyone else. I'm still sctatching like a dog with fleas. And, I was expecting like everyone else a real 'inspiring' keynote address from Ron Bills. He spoke to us for a very brief time, mostly thank yous. That left me very disappointed.

It was sad seeing loads of LLC dealers just checking in at the hotel as we were leaving Sunday afternoon. I wondered why they did not care to participate in Segway Fest. I think most of the new dealers are not 'passionate' about the HT, just the potential for 'return on investment'. The dealers don't realize we are better advertizing than all of the money LLC is spending on their 'get moving' campaigns. I have a great deal of respect for everyone at LLC, but every so often I feel like they are 'biting the hand that feeds them'.

Well in the end I met great freinds, had great glides, learned lots of new things, got four new i170's, 'mission accomplished'.

Oh yeah, yesterday I got a nice mention in the new issue of US News and World Report.

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[RAG1247]

quote:Originally posted by Florida Ever-Glides

Everything was GREAT!!! The people, the events, the forums, the every night 'glides', the resort, and most of all the people who worked their ***'s off to make sure we all had a great time. My hats off to Matt, Jim, and especially Chandra, and their family/associates who made sure that each and every one of us got the most out of our Segway Fest experience.

The LLC people were all nice and polite but you never saw them participating in any of the 'fun' events like night glides and so forth. I never really got to know any of them because they seemed to keep a distance from many of us. I was also a little disturbed when I heard from a very reliable source that LLC had instructed their dealers NOT to participate on the SegwayChat site. That would be a loss for everyone. And, maybe that's why I sensed the 'distance' during the Fest. Hey, Janey & I had a great time.

I did experience the 'banquet bugs' like everyone else. I'm still sctatching like a dog with fleas. And, I was expecting like everyone else a real 'inspiring' keynote address from Ron Bills. He spoke to us for a very brief time, mostly thank yous. That left me very disappointed.

It was sad seeing loads of LLC dealers just checking in at the hotel as we were leaving Sunday afternoon. I wondered why they did not care to participate in Segway Fest. I think most of the new dealers are not 'passionate' about the HT, just the potential for 'return on investment'. The dealers don't realize we are better advertizing than all of the money LLC is spending on their 'get moving' campaigns. I have a great deal of respect for everyone at LLC, but every so often I feel like they are 'biting the hand that feeds them'.

Well in the end I met great freinds, had great glides, learned lots of new things, got four new i170's, 'mission accomplished'.

Oh yeah, yesterday I got a nice mention in the new issue of US News and World Report.

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com


Tom:

I agree with most of your comments, except:

I and others participated with several llc personnel on night glides, having meals together etc. At times all personnel had various functions to perform, assignments, etc. but I couldn't categorize that any of them tried to "keep a distance from many of us". I have known many employees of llc for 18+ months and I value their friendship.

I have no knowledge of llc asking dealers to stay off segway chat and in fact you will see various dealers in the stuff to sell section.

imo, several dealers are passionate about the segway and future products, etc. As far as the "potential for return on investment", it must be remembered that they are not in business for the fun of it or as a hobby.



Richard
Ft. Lauderdale

If you can’t change the people around you, change the people around you [img=right]http://www.sonyguy.com/rageagle.jpg[/img=right]

[jgrohol]

I can only speak for myself, but I ended up being far more busy and more tired at the end of the day than I thought I would be... I'm sorry I wasn't up to any of the night glides or spending more down-time hanging out, but it was a pretty exhausting few days for me. I'm only now just recovering!

I had a great time and enjoyed very much sitting in more than a few of the presentations. It seemed like there was a great set of presenters there, and even more, a great set of participants and owners!! The only thing I really didn't like were the no-see-ums, which bit me alive during the gala buffet.

I'm also not aware of any ban on dealers from participating in SegwayChat. We only ask that they respect their NDAs and not discuss un-released products (which most have been great about).



--
All views expressed here are my own, not necessarily those of my employer or others. Check out http://grohol.com/.

[Florida Ever-Glides]

They were asked during Segway Fest Richard, and I guess that you just didn't hear it. I was at ALL of the night glides and no LLC employee participated in any one of them. You have known them much longer than I have, and I too would value their friendship if they had made an effort towards my friendship. I had no problem making lots of other new friends. Hey, I'm not offended, it was just an obvious perception from my wife an myself...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[macgeek]

LLC - is a company, that is out to sell a product, as is the dealers. we are just the customers. Thats all we are.

Jonathan

Segway - "Let's Roll"
Centaur - "Lets Roll on all fours"
www.segwaygeek.com

[Neelix]

There were some Segway employees on the nightglides.

I also didn't think that they were trying to distance themselves. All you had to do was just walk up and start talking to them. They're all great people and I really think that seeing us and our enthusiasm for the balancing technology (can't just say Segway anymore, can I ? =) ) keeps them going.

Big thanks to Segway, you wouldn't believe how generous they were at Segway Fest, and how much work they did to help put everything together.

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Jonathan,

Without the customers, there are NO dealers and then NO product. I learned this in my freshman year in college. I hope that they don't think we are just the customers...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[driley]

quote:Originally posted by Florida Ever-Glides


... It was sad seeing loads of LLC dealers just checking in at the hotel as we were leaving Sunday afternoon. I wondered why they did not care to participate in Segway Fest. I think most of the new dealers are not 'passionate' about the HT, just the potential for 'return on investment'. The dealers don't realize we are better advertizing than all of the money LLC is spending on their 'get moving' campaigns. I have a great deal of respect for everyone at LLC, but every so often I feel like they are 'biting the hand that feeds them'.

...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com


I'm sure most dealers have a lot invested in their new business venture. I'm certain most would not call it a hobby and making a return on their investment is very important. With any luck, Segway LLC and its dealers will grow and prosper and we will all benefit as a result. I'm all for them making a healthy return on their investments. If they don't, Florida Everglides may have a difficult time finding spares for an extinct invention.

Devin

[terryp]

It sounds like everyone had a great time. :)

Some questions from someone who didn't attend:

Were firmware upgrades from 12.0 to 12.1 offered? Was the difference between the two discussed?

Was Dean's dad there with new posters?

Will a DVD be offered this year? If so, will it cover the technical discussions?

Did anyone ask about the potential wire chafing problem?

Did anyone pick up any good technical tips worth sharing?

Segway - How do YOU get around?

[sholloway]

I'm disappointed that someone is saying that we aren't passionate about the HT. I guess I just don't see whatever it is that you see that leads you to believe that. I, for one, am passionate about it, so much so that I got a dealership just seeing it, before I stepped on one. I could tell from the excitment of people's faces that I wanted to be involved and happened to be lucky enough to be in a financial position to get "really" involved and become a dealer.

Segway DOES in fact know that current owners are our biggest advertisers (and so do the dealers). For any dealer that didn't know that we saw MANY slides in presentation throughout our seminars pointing this out. Some current owners may go a little overborad from time to time with some of the comments but YES you guys are the best advertising there is. Any dealer will tell you so. I couldn't make it for the entire event so I came down Saturday night and stayed through today. I was glad to put faces with usernames and we look forward to working with all of you on future events and programs. There is no doubt, it IS a business but I don't think you can easily find someone that just looks at it as numbers, we're all very excited about the technology and the product and the feeling you get when you're on it.

[beckpm]

quote:Originally posted by terryp

It sounds like everyone had a great time. :)

Some questions from someone who didn't attend:
....

Was Dean's dad there with new posters?

....

Did anyone pick up any good technical tips worth sharing?

Segway - How do YOU get around?


Dean's Dad was not there, but his poster is super:
<center>http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/beckpm/poster.jpg</center>

The best technical tip I heard was that if you go into safety shutdown while moving along at a good clip (like going across the street) - it will not shut down power while your speed is up and make you fall down, but as soon as you slow down - it soon goes off. I induced a shutdown (short out) and tried it and it indeed works!

<div align="right">http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/beckpm/smallsig.GIF</div id="right">

[macgeek]

Look, I LOVE MY SEGWAY!!!!!
Please do not think I do not.

I just think LLC is in the buiesness of buiesness.

Jonathan

Segway - "Let's Roll"
Centaur - "Lets Roll on all fours"
www.segwaygeek.com

[KSagal]

I must agree with Richard and others. I went on night glides each night, and there were LLC employees on some of them.

I believe I just happened to miss the ones that Tom was on. There was only one "Official" night glide, and I missed it, but that night and each of the 4 nights I was in Florida, I was gliding off and on till 1 or 2 AM. It was fantastic!

Unfortunately for the LLC employees, the days were long and hard, and they started earlier than I did, so that might account for some peoples impressions.

On more than one evening, the later it got, the better it got. Those that went on a night glide and then went to bed at 10 PM like good boys and girls missed out on one fun time after another.

It was my first time screaming (At 12+MPH) down the boardwalk at 1 AM or taking that swoopy sidewalk to the clubhouse at midnight, but it won't be my last...

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.

[Brooster]

<center>http://www.segwaychat.com/photos/beckpm/poster.jpg</center>

AWESOME!!! Ol' Jack's done it again!



Brooster

[pam]

I spent quite some time with LLC employees while at SegFest, and have to say that they had schedules that were even more hectic than ours were - plus meetings after hours. And if there was a problem they could help with, they bent over backwards to help fix it. As an example, my getting down there without my keys! A couple of the employees were quick to say how much they enjoyed seeing people they'd met in the past. I didn't feel they were disengaging - but I did feel they were really busy.

I, personally, didn't do any of the night rides (although I'm positive I would have enjoyed going on one with Tom, because he's such a good "glide leader" &lt;G&gt;.) But I was pretty tired, myself, and tended to go to bed early.

Pam

[woodenapple]

quote:Posted - Oct 12 2004 : 10:45:14 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some questions from someone who didn't attend:

Were firmware upgrades from 12.0 to 12.1 offered? Was the difference between the two discussed?

Was Dean's dad there with new posters?

Did anyone ask about the potential wire chafing problem?



I asked at the Segway booth in the vendor hall about the lack of upgrades being offered at the Fest, and was told that the changes from 12.0 to 12.1 were minimal. Later, when I asked Doug Field what had changed in 12.1, he said it was very slight, and that 12.1 couldn't really be the souce of improvements for some individual HTs that some here on the board have attributed to it. I also heard that the changes helped get the software organized in such a way that later changes will be easier.

Dean's dad had planned on coming, but ended up not being able to make it. But he personally signed enough of his posters for everyone ahead of time. Dean handed out the posters after his breakfast talk, and added his own autograph for the people who asked (including me!). Dean said his dad went through a few fully completed drawings along the lines of last year's poster, but they were too much "Been there, done that." So he ended up imitating a science fiction comic book cover like those he was famous for illustrating back in the day.

Concerning wire chafing - At the panel discussion they said that the reported problems are almost always when people continue pressing down after meeting some resistance when lowering the handlebars. So I guess the solution is: Don't do that.

Rodney

[dlrs]

Just for the record...I am a dealer who attended both Segfest and the Dealer Mtg (and greatly enjoyed both). I (nor any other dealers I know) was not asked to avoid participating in Segchat. On the contrary, Segway LLC takes a very positive position towards all of the user groups and encourages it dealers to do so as well. Many dealers simply don't get on Segchat because we are all very busy building our business or are not online chatters by nature. I have used Segchat dozens of times to research particular issues and to get a feel of customer experiences. I think it is invaluable, and I make a point of recommending participation to all my customers and prospects.

Segway LLC and all the dealers at the meetings following Segfest talked at great length about how impressive the owner community is and about ways to enhance our support of it. Those dealers I spoke with who did not get a chance to attend Segfest (many small owner/operators just starting out) all expressed their regret and their intentions to attend next year. Many were so new they didn't even know about it, but I am sure you can count on their attendance and support for years to come.

P.S. - I did go one group night glide and throughly enjoyed it - excepts for the bugs!

Rachel

[Stewbonz]

We know the chafing results from lowering the handlebar.
The real question is, why have they not sent us a fix? Will we be responsible for the flaw after the warranty expires?

JEFF JARVIS
http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/