Meet the Street: Wonder of Transport or Goofy Scooter-Weed Whacker?

Early December finally saw the unveiling of Ginger -- the brainchild of inventor Dean Kamen -- which was touted as a revolutionary means of transportation.

After a feverish promotion, it was perhaps inevitable that the rollout of the Segway Human Transporter would be somewhat of a letdown. The device, for all its sleek design, looks like the result of an unholy coupling between a scooter and a weed whacker.

Yet it boasts some impressive features. The Segway can range up to 17 miles on a single battery charge, under optimum conditions. It travels at up to 12.5 mph, about three times faster than a quick walker. Already, the U.S. Post Office and the National Park Service have signed on as early customers, though the Segway won't be available to retail customers until sometime late next year. ...