# Any thoughts on what "Ginger" is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270 "2001-01-10T02:57:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ConMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ConMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ConMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/1 "2001-01-10T02:57:23Z")
According to the inventor of `Ginger,'' Dean Kamen, his device will be an alternative to products that `are dirty, expensive, sometimes dangerous and often frustrating, especially for people in the cities.’’ [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) CEO Jeff Bezos says it’s a ``product so revolutionary, you’ll have no problem selling it.’’ Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs says it will change the ways cities are designed. Venture capitalist John Doerr has invested millions in it. It sounds like a replacement for NY taxicabs to me but I want your questions, comments and observations. ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/2 "2001-01-10T03:01:02Z")
There’s another thread about it [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=54669), with a link to the article about it. Apparently it (or at least the parts its made out of) can fit in a couple of duffle bags. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/3 "2001-01-10T13:45:17Z")
A scam? "…an alternative to products that ``are dirty, expensive, sometimes dangerous and often frustrating, especially for people in the cities.’’ But the Japanese are already marketing a mechanical dog. "[Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) CEO Jeff Bezos says it’s a ``product so revolutionary, you’ll have no problem selling it.’’ The Iridium phones system is a revolutionary product; so is barbecued watermelon. Now I understand how Jeff’s keen insight into human nature has enabled his company to lose umptillions in just a few short years of operation. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/4 "2001-01-10T13:51:54Z")
I’m very wary of something that is so hyped, yet they cannot say what it is. ---
**Author:** ![ConMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@ConMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ConMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/5 "2001-01-10T14:20:23Z")
Thanks for the link, Muppethead. Though I did conduct a search for “Ginger” before I posted. “It”, whatever it might be, certainly has stirred my interest. In the latest issue of National Geographic, there is a Ford ad for a car that runs on hydrogen. Who knows??? Speculating is half the fun! ---
**Author:** ![steph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@steph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steph)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/6 "2001-01-10T14:34:43Z")
Correct me if i’m wrong, but isn’t the term “Ginger” used to describe an ugly person that complains alot. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/7 "2001-01-10T15:25:11Z")
I’m going to close this copy to keep answers contained in the larger thread. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-thoughts-on-what-ginger-is/49270/8 "2001-01-10T15:25:41Z")
You would think that since they came up with a revolutionary product, the least they could do is to come up with a revolutionary name for it. All I can think of is gingerbread cookies and ginger spice. I mean come on, where’s the originality. Maybe it’s the Infinite Improbability Drive?