Robin ‘Roblimo’ Miller
Semi-retired IT journalist, author, and video producer; still accepting interesting assignments
Official Bio
I’m a skilled blogger and non-fiction author, interested in another 10 – 20 hours of work per week, but no more than that. Since 2008 I’ve freelanced for Slashdot, TechTarget, DevX, and a few others. Due to a pair of major heart attacks in 2010, I am no longer able to work full-time. I am as reliable and as skilled as ever; I just can’t take on as much work.
Before 2008 I was Editor in Chief for SourceForge Inc. (formerly OSTG; originally Andover.net; now Slashdotmedia) from 1999 to 2008. Before that (in no particular order): Freelance reporter and editor, electronics tech, soldier, limousine owner/driver, cab driver and dispatcher, auto mechanic, sailboat bum, cook, and fiction writer (mostly short stories).
Goals? Make the world a better place. Write about (and use and even help develop) new technologies. Come up with new methods of using the Internet as a news medium that fall in line with my basic online news thesis, once derided but now widely accepted, that the Internet is best used for dialogues, not monologues.
Specialties: Writing, editing, and video production. Building scalable, sustainable online communities. Finding, training, and retaining capable employees, and building creative teams. I have written three books for Prentice Hall and have co-written, ghosted and edited several others.
Experience
Writer, Editor, and Video Maker
Semi-Retired
– Present (6 years 4 months)Manatee County, Florida
One of my ongoing projects is a weekly column called Cheap Computing. I am also partly or fully responsible for all Slashdot videos. You can see them at TV.Slashdot.org.
- a recommendation:
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Velva Heraty
Radio Talk Show Host at “Let’s Talk Life!” Radio Show
Rob is the consummate videographer and his editing skills are excellent. He meets deadlines with ease.View
Editor in Chief
SourceForge Inc.
– (10 years 8 months)
Oversaw editorial content on NewsForge.com, Linux.com, Slashdot.org and our other popular Web sites. Developed new content delivery methods and online video styles. Recruited and trained staff and freelance writers. Worked with marketing and sales executives to ensure site profitability while maintaining editorial integrity.
- (Open)9 recommendations, including:
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Tina Gasperson
Author and Protagonist at You Loved Me: a memoir of transformation
Robin is an amazing out of the box thinker, and that makes him a great entrepreneur. Anything he decides to learn, he learns…View
Chuck Talk
Premier Support Engineer at Atlassian
Robin Miller is one of the most knowledgeable technology authors I know. He takes a very fair and honest look at technology,…View
Galactic Overlord (there’s a story behind this…)
Robin’s Limousine
– (5 years 9 months)
A small limo company I started as a breakaway from On-Time Sedan Service in Baltimore, which I also founded. It’s the origin of my “Roblimo” nickname. I was also an active freelance writer at the time — and did much of my research and some of my writing while waiting for limo clients. Sometimes I miss those days…
Contract writer/columnist
Time Life New Media
– (2 years 6 months)
Wrote for Time Life’s ‘Pathfinder’ site; did a weekly column about money-saving computer tips, plus assorted features. Left to join then-new Andover News Network, which became Andover.net, and later got bought by VA Linux and had its name changed to OSTG — after which the company changed its name to VA Software and more recently decided it was really SourceForge, Inc. ~ After all those changes, we might as well just call it VAST FOG. But that wasn’t enough. Then it became Geek.net. And now, in 2012, the company’s media properties have been sold to Dice.com, and I have no idea what they’ll end up calling this poor corporate orphan.
Volunteer Experience & Causes
Causes Robin ‘Roblimo’ cares about:
- Economic Empowerment
- Politics
- Human Rights
- Civil Rights and Social Action
- Poverty Alleviation
Books:
The Habits of Highly Successful Online Companies: Rules for Building Profits on the Internet
Financial Times Prentice Hall
May 8, 2002
Descriptions of notable online business successes and failures, with instructions on how to emulate the successes and avoid being one of the failures.
Point & Click Linux! – Your Guide to Trouble-Free Computing
Prentice Hall/Pearson Education
November 19, 2004
“You don’t need to be a computer expert! With Roblimo’s step-by-step instructions and how-to videos, you’ll master everything from word processing to the Web and email, instant messaging to CD burning… you name it.” — publisher’s back cover copy
Point & Click OpenOffice.org
Prentice Hall/Pearson Education
December 9, 2005
“Robin will help you become productive in minutes—and you don’t need to be a computer expert! His easy, visual instructions walk you through every step of every task you need to know… plus, you’ll find twenty how-to videos on CD! You’ll master everything from formatting text documents to creating presentation slide shows and building “what-if” projections to designing flowcharts. There’s even bonus coverage of Firefox and Thunderbird, the fast, safe, free software for Web browsing and e-mail!” — publisher’s cover copy
Worth Following
