It was announced yesterday that Doug Field, ex-CTO of Segway, was moving over to Apple's design division. Eyebrows arched. But... but... the Segway looks terrible. There's some great tech in there, but the design is strictly utilitarian... a fat rent-a-cop riding a backwards vacuum cleaner as his own personal food court steed! There's nothing out-and-out contradictory about it — Apple needs great tech minds just as much as it needs great designers — but it still seemed a tad odd.
Apparently, we're not the only ones to think so. core77 posts this great exchange between Steve Jobs and Segway's Tim Adams, upon Jobs being presented with the Segway's final design for the first time.
“I think it sucks!” said Jobs.
His vehemence made [Segway's] Tim [Adams] pause. “Why?” he asked, a bit stiffly.
“It just does.”
“In what sense?” said Tim, getting his feet back under him. “Give me a clue.”
“Its shape is not innovative, it’s not elegant, it doesn’t feel anthropomorphic,” said Jobs, ticking off three of his design mantras.
“You have this incredibly innovative machine but it looks very traditional.” The last word delivered like a stab. Doug Field and Scott Waters would have felt the wound; they admired Apple’s design sense. Dean’s intuition not to bring Doug had been right. “There are design firms out there that could come up with things we’ve never thought of,” Jobs continued, “things that would make you s–t in your pants.”
He was right, of course, but I love the idea of an apoplectic Steve Jobs flinging a cup of coffee across the room and screaming, "It sucks! Sucks! IT JUST DOES!"
Jobs on the early Segway [Core77]
The new i2’s are much better in both the design regard and ease of use.
http://www.segway.com/individual/models/i2.php
Sorry the i2 is not white and has no glass or chrome. Therefore it sucks… It just does! 😉
Anthropomorphic? What human like features should a balancing two wheeled scooter have?
Yes, the Segway could be prettier. But, the appeal is in the riding. If you’ve never tried one – do. They are an amazing machine. And, I can tell you from personal experience on them, though they may not be seen as “cool” their riders sure are.
Huh. I thought Segways sucked because they were just slow scooters that you have to stand up on. Turns out it’s because they aren’t white or something.
You know what, car designs suck too! Why do they have to have four wheels and doors on each side?? Who cares about aerodynamics and wind resistance?? Even the current white ones suck! They just do!
How anyone can be defensive of the Segway’s design is beyond me. I side with Brianary.
Steve is right, although he argued it in the dumbest way possible.
Wasn’t Jobs the one who said when it was called Ginger: ‘We will build cities around it.’ Or something prescient like that?
#3 posted by Anonymous
There should be a robo glory hole just about where that front cop-bag thing is on the Segway.
Ironically enough, I’ve always though that Apple’s design aesthetics sucked.
…and GOB Bluth could not be reached for comment…
What exactly is anthropomorphic about an iPod or a MacBook?
MacOS 9 had that cubist two-faced logo, but what else Apple is anthropomorphic?
A foot platform with 2 wheels and a handle. WTF does Jobs want, bling?
If Jobs built it, the damn thing would have no handles (would work by thoughts alone) and would hover off the ground instead of those archaic wheels.
Unfortunately, he’s too busy reinventing UR PHONE.
“a fat rent-a-cop riding a backwards vacuum cleaner as his own personal food court steed”
I’m still laughing! Nailed it!
Oh wait, I thought the main problem was, you know, it costs a LOT and isn’t affordable by most people…
…oh yeah, Jobs wouldn’t necessarily complain about that. Nevermind.