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Transcript - Page 2 pages- 1 2 3 4
psyco_kitten says: How did you come up with such a great magazine?
RobinRaskin: No one was talking about technology to "normal people" -
you had to be a geek or in the "in" crowd. You had to devote a lifetime to reading technology. Most magazines had experts in labs. We threw that out, and said let's use REAL people in their homes for testing. That was the concept that propelled the magazine. Today, we have 4000 families who are called the "family testers" who help us by testing all the products we review. If a family tells you it's good, it really means something.
Chyknees: When FamilyPC went online did it, like, double your workload? Do you edit both publications?
RobinRaskin: Going online was horrible! LOL! First we were on AOL, before the Internet existed. We had to learn special tools, and special ways of authoring. Then we added HTML and the Internet. Now every editor had THREE jobs....print, AOL and the Net. Most will tell you that the Internet has made much more work for them. But we've all had to become much smarter about working in the same fashion to re-purpose the print in a unique way for the Net, and vice versa. And we're still not where we would like to be.
uryka: How's it going with your WebTV setup, Robin? Have you come to like it better? Is WebTV the way of the future? (Love your magazine, btw.)
RobinRaskin: uryka remembers that I could not get used to my WebTV in my bedroom! I didn't have enough electrical outlets, and the sites looked awful, and my kids used it for watching TV! It has great promise, but mine is in the closet for awhile! How about yours, uryka? Anyone else? *grin*
papoose says: How many hours a day should a child spend on a computer?
RobinRaskin: Oh dear! That one depends on the child. No one, I think,
should spend ALL their time in front of a PC. And that goes double for kids. I have less trouble with them using it for homework, versus using
it for hours to chat. But I suppose that is a normal part of growing up. When we were teenagers, we used the telephone much in the same way. I think a good parent knows their own child, and makes sure they have a
balanced existence.
papoose says: Any suggestions for a stay-at-home mom for a home-based business?
RobinRaskin: There are SO many creative ways to make some cash with your PC. But DON'T go for any of those Internet scams! We have just
investigated those "quick ways" to make money online, and they don't
work! Take something you love, like gardening, or graphic design, or
collectibles, and think about putting it on the Internet. There are ways to put commerce online. One woman I know sells aromatherapy at home via the net. There is plenty of room for public relations and marketing, too. I worked at home as a freelance writer for ten years while my kids were growing up and I could not have done it without my computer. I was in control of my hours and my life with my job. Sort of.
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Kids& Family
