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Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names

Tags: news, gadgets, Phone, Segway, Name, Disappointment, Cell Phone, Apple Inc., Sales, Photograph, Nintendo Wii, Sales Strategy, Telecom & Utilities

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Segway
It was supposed to change the world, revolutionize transportation, and even reinvent urban planning as we know it. It is, of course, the Segway, but once it was known by the sexier codename of "Ginger." The name of the "gliding" electric scooter was actually a reference to actress Ginger Rogers, famed as Fred Astaire's regular onscreen dance partner, but it also (naturally) carries connotations of the voluptuous, seductive Gilligan's Island siren. Talk about a moniker that would get the fanboys talking.

Unfortunately, the Segway itself never lived up to the hype. Sure, there are some hardcore fans, and the Segway featured prominently on the beloved sitcom "Arrested Development," but the general public just hasn't caught onto it. Some blame high prices, others just don't want to be seen riding the somewhat awkward scooters around. Additionally, some local and regional governments have legislated against the Segway, claiming that it's a road hazard. The company has also had to institute multiple recalls.

Some loyalists are still holding out on the possibility that it still might change the world, but right now, the Segway is still probably best-known as eccentric Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak's polo mount of choice.

                     

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The Dreamcast will be Sorely missedseanryan52@...  | 07/20/07
I've got to agreersirois@...  | 07/20/07
I still have mine!Adamant22@...  | 07/20/07
Me too! Dreamcast Lives onm.madden@...  | 07/24/07
Agreed as well/Not a disappointment IMHOWoW > Work  | 07/20/07
Dreamcast was ahead of its time....jwanderson@...  | 07/20/07
I liked my Dreamcast tooblitz240@...  | 07/20/07
Dreamcast VS PS2ej@...  | 07/22/07
No - Microsoft killed the DreamCastblazing-biz@...  | 03/12/08
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)richard.klein@...  | 07/20/07
Not pegged as a flop?!?rsirois@...  | 07/20/07
how many had em?golncor  | 07/20/07
Not true on either countsketchy_2001  | 07/20/07
I agreeirenaeus@...  | 07/21/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)david@...  | 07/20/07
You can't compare UMPCs with PDAs like Blackberry and iPhones!Stelian  | 07/20/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)boylejv@...  | 07/20/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)gdavis1954@...  | 07/20/07
The Apple Newton was a Revolution in it's own right!TheCoyoteDreams  | 07/20/07
Utter Toshsketchy_2001  | 07/20/07
Batteries & Graffi on the NewtonTheCoyoteDreams  | 07/23/07
I love Fanboys!Willy MacWindows  | 07/21/07
n-gage me...flashboy@...  | 07/20/07
N-Gage - good hardware, but..ej@...  | 07/22/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)jason@...  | 07/20/07
"sheeple" Great phrase!jerken  | 07/20/07
SyQuest....large portable storage!TheCoyoteDreams  | 07/23/07
Sheeple is right...Willy MacWindows  | 07/21/07
Name me a phone company that doesn'tbill@...  | 07/22/07
Your love of it blinds you...bill@...  | 07/22/07
your love of apple blinds youhbr@...  | 10/15/07
I see you have become my personal Trollbill@...  | 12/21/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)thezar  | 07/20/07
Audrey - Home Technology ahead of its timebdodgers  | 07/20/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)Totohydra  | 07/20/07
Portable version to be called ... Pii?Totohydra  | 07/20/07
RE: Portable version to be called ... Pii?chris@...  | 07/24/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)themyselfer@...  | 07/21/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)themyselfer@...  | 07/21/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)haYnguy@...  | 07/22/07
Zune Failed because of Musicbyrnesa@...  | 07/23/07
Toshiba Gigabeat?ej@...  | 07/23/07
Don't get itrrpostal@...  | 09/06/07
RE: (Photos: 10 tech disappointments...with cool names)kohyg@...  | 10/13/07
Some of these aren't flops!allleddddxxx@...  | 12/03/07

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