[hop]

Zero traffic congestion, close to free to operate, fulfillment in minutes? Under 1 hour order delivery? There’s obviously downsides like sound and then falling out of the sky, but getting anything under 5 pounds two orders of magnitudes faster is a big deal.

[lancewiggs]

One person is happy, thousands of others are negatively affected. This is a selfish mode of transporting goods.

[nexuist]

I bet if HN existed in 1890, this would absolutely be a comment on the thread "Introducing the Automobile."

The truth is almost every mode of transport is selfish. It's always selfish, until everyone starts using it, at which point it's revolutionary.

[megablast]

If they tried to introduce cars now, there is no way they would get through. Because they are truly ridiculous and horrible. A million deaths around the world directly, and another million due to pollution? Imagine trying to convince everyone that was a good idea.

[nexuist]

Compared to walking dozens of miles everywhere? Remember that the only existing modes of transportation were bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. The car absolutely needed to happen to aid our progress as a civilization.

Everything looks bad in hindsight right? But it is the car that enabled the progression that makes the car impractical.

[adamwong246]

I agree. This invention does nothing of real value. Perhaps it makes you life a bit more convenient but it's the difference between ordering a pizza in 30 minutes and ordering a pizza in 10 minutes. This can't enhance human well-being- it's simply a toy for rich techies who can afford to pay a premium to get their stuff all the faster.

I wish Mr Bezos would focus on something of real value- asteroid mining and transferal of polluting industries off-world.