OT: PowerPoint?? Best Book to Learn Quickly??

J

Jim Thompson

Guest
I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Throughout the history of this great country there have actually
been people of only two political persuasions: fighters and cowards.
WE MUST NOT LET THE LATTER PREVAIL IN THE NEXT ELECTION!
 
"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:nlhb60dr9cq9l2p2icut2bmn1gnm19i0mu@4ax.com...
| I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
| client.
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Powerpoint is highly unreccomended. You should not have bought it you
should have requested that they lend you a copy.

At the same time you should have requested that they provide some
example presentations given by users within the company.

Having reviewed the material provided you will have gained a basic idea
about the standard powerpoint presentation.

At this point you will be able to assemble a number of slides from your
latest holiday, pick up your projector and screen and wag it.

Unfortunately you will be caught out by virtue of the fact that your
'powerpoint presentation' is marginally more interesting than the usual
fair.

And that's using your holiday snaps..... you know, the shit you post
here along with temperature/humidity/snow updates.

DNA
 
"Genome" <Genome@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:Chk9c.10$BR1.7@newsfe3-win.server.ntli.net...
|
| "Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
| news:nlhb60dr9cq9l2p2icut2bmn1gnm19i0mu@4ax.com...
| | I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
| | client.
| |
| | Thanks!
| |
| | ...Jim Thompson
|
| DNA
|
|

Oh, and include the words...

'My Dachsund will increase yield of something by so many percent.'

DNA
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
Click to expand...
The Bible.

John
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:24:35 -0800, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

The Bible.

John
Click to expand...
I'm starting to feel that way. Man! M$ can sure make obtuse software
:-(

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Throughout the history of this great country there have actually
been people of only two political persuasions: fighters and cowards.
WE MUST NOT LET THE LATTER PREVAIL IN THE NEXT ELECTION!
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:24:37 -0700, the renowned Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:24:35 -0800, John Larkin
jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

The Bible.

John

I'm starting to feel that way. Man! M$ can sure make obtuse software
:-(

...Jim Thompson
Click to expand...
Everyone I know just played around with it and learned from the help
files and wizards. At least for everyday inter-company and
intra-company communication purposes.

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:24:37 -0700, Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:24:35 -0800, John Larkin
jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson

The Bible.

John

I'm starting to feel that way. Man! M$ can sure make obtuse software
:-(

...Jim Thompson
Click to expand...

Yeah. The only word processor I use is EDIT. Probably the best
presentation I ever made was illustrated by overheads projected from
hand sketches I did on the (bumpy) airplane flight to the customer
site.

John
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompso
Click to expand...
I suggest getting PowerPoint for Dummies. It will get you out of the
gate and running pretty fast and help you become familiar most of the
basic operations.

73,

Danny
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.
Click to expand...
The bigger they are, the more they change their mind. Be wary.

Any recommendations for best book to get?
Click to expand...
Book? Is that one of those collections of cellulose sheets with out
of date scribbling on both sides? I thought they were only found in
museums.

Perhaps an online tutorial would be more useful:
http://www.lgta.org/ppt7/
http://www.actden.com/pp/
http://www.tutorgig.com/searchweb.jsp?keywords=Learn+Powerpoint
There a bunch more online. Computers are best learned on a computer.

Incidentally, I detest PowerPoint type presentations. There's nothing
more boring than a semi-darkened room, and listening to the presenter
read exactly what's on the screen. I usually have to bring a bag of
rubber bands to the presentation in order to get the speakers
attention because he can't see me in the dark and is ALWAYS looking at
the screen instead of the semi-visible audience.

I have to give presentations about once a month. I never have used or
plan to use PowerPoint. I'm a fairly good speaker and don't need
PowerPoint bullet lists to reinforce my points. I talk, sometimes
yell, deal with the usual interruptions, and turn my presentations
into an audience participatory affair. The problem is that my
audience typically expects some kind of multi-media extravaganza and a
high level of entertainment value. Therefore, I use lots of digital
photos, of real devices, systems, sketches, humor, and failures. I
explain what's on the screen, and why it's important. The idea is to
show them something that they've never seen before, that will hold
their attention, attract their curiousity, and get them to think about
what I'm pitching. PowerPoint slides with 4 bullets and animated
distractions are cute, but don't do any of the aformentioned.

I guess PowerPoint has its place. It can compensate for lousy public
speaking skills by forcing the audience to read the screen *INSTEAD*
of listening to the blundering speaker. There's also no better way to
display graphs, trends, statistics, and other forms of science
fiction.

Recently, I had to give a song-n-dance at a hospital. The meeting
room had the projection system locked up. By the time we found
someone with a key, I also discovered that my ancient laptop had
crapped out. However, the meeting room also had 4ea large television
sets in various conspicuous locations (it was also used as a training
room). So, I also had my presentation on my digital camera (Canon
A70). I plugged the video output into the VCR, figured out how to get
the TV's running, and ran the whole presentation using my digital
camera. The audience was more impressed with my digital camera trick
than with my song-n-dance, but that was to be expected. I also had a
ring binder with b&w prints of my slides that I could have passed
around in case the digital camera trick failed. The moral is to NOT
rely totally on computers, PowerPoint, board room electronics, and
security remembering to unlock the projection cabinet.


--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
(831)421-6491 pgr (831)336-2558 home
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us jeffl@cruzio.com
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:04:09 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
<jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote:


Incidentally, I detest PowerPoint type presentations. There's nothing
more boring than a semi-darkened room, and listening to the presenter
read exactly what's on the screen. I usually have to bring a bag of
rubber bands to the presentation in order to get the speakers
attention because he can't see me in the dark and is ALWAYS looking at
the screen instead of the semi-visible audience.
Click to expand...

Somewhere in the early '70s, TI decided to go into the computer
business and build ASC, the TI Advanced Scientific Computer. The only
tangible result of the project was a superior way to shoot rubber
bands.

Spread out your left-hand thumb and index finger and loop a fat, flat
rubber band on their tips, medium-tight. Take the index finger of your
right hand and catch the right-most loop of the band midway. Now
transfer the band so that it's stretched between you left thumb and
your right index finger; one side will now be stretched hard, the
other almost limp. Stretch to max, aim, and fire. The differential
spin will give a flat, stable flight and a satisfying whack at the
target. Many TI secretaries butts were accurately targeted and several
marriages resulted.

John

ps - one of the design constraints of ASC was that the preset and
clear of all flipflops were always tied high.
 
I read in sci.electronics.design that Jim Thompson
<thegreatone@example.com> wrote (in
<nlhb60dr9cq9l2p2icut2bmn1gnm19i0mu@4ax.com>) about 'OT: PowerPoint??
Best Book to Learn Quickly??', on Sat, 27 Mar 2004:
I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?
Click to expand...
Of all the Microsoft software, PowerPoint is, IMO by far the easiest to
learn and to get to work well. I bought the big thick 'Que' book, but
I've not even opened it since I started using PowerPoint for real.

Think of it as a rather primitive word-processor and you may not go far
wrong. Use BIG letters: it's visually-impaired. About 18 point minimum.
Sans-serif is best. Verdana if you have lots of space; Arial Narrow if
you don't. Eschew Haettenschweiler!

Mind you, I don't do anything really fancy; I want the audience to
concentrate on my golden words of wisdom, not be bamboozled by dancing
bunnies or text zipping into view from all directions. KISS!
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk
 
I read in sci.electronics.design that Genome <Genome@nothere.com> wrote
(in <Chk9c.10$BR1.7@newsfe3-win.server.ntli.net>) about 'PowerPoint??
Best Book to Learn Quickly??', on Sat, 27 Mar 2004:
"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:nlhb60dr9cq9l2p2icut2bmn1gnm19i0mu@4ax.com...
| I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
| client.
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Powerpoint is highly unreccomended. You should not have bought it you
should have requested that they lend you a copy.

At the same time you should have requested that they provide some
example presentations given by users within the company.

Having reviewed the material provided you will have gained a basic idea
about the standard powerpoint presentation.

At this point you will be able to assemble a number of slides from your
latest holiday, pick up your projector and screen and wag it.

Unfortunately you will be caught out by virtue of the fact that your
'powerpoint presentation' is marginally more interesting than the usual
fair.

And that's using your holiday snaps..... you know, the shit you post
here along with temperature/humidity/snow updates.

DNA


You deserve a medium-sized LOL for that.
Click to expand...
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk
 
I read in sci.electronics.design that Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlog
DOTyou.knowwhat> wrote (in <0hmb609p81aa66eij66135gke61hq9mno7@4ax.com>)
about 'OT: PowerPoint?? Best Book to Learn Quickly??', on Sat, 27 Mar
2004:
Everyone I know just played around with it and learned from the help
files and wizards.
Click to expand...
I found them much less than helpful; typical Microsoft 'help' that
doesn't even cover all the items in the drop-down menus. Mind you, many
other apps are at least as bad. I just put up a blank slide, changed the
background to light blue (patent pending) and typed black text into it.
Start with 24 point and make it a bit smaller if you run out of room.
--
Regards, John Woodgate, OOO - Own Opinions Only.
The good news is that nothing is compulsory.
The bad news is that everything is prohibited.
http://www.jmwa.demon.co.uk Also see http://www.isce.org.uk
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 20:53:15 +0000, John Woodgate
<jmw@jmwa.demon.contraspam.yuk> wrote:

I read in sci.electronics.design that Genome <Genome@nothere.com> wrote
(in <Chk9c.10$BR1.7@newsfe3-win.server.ntli.net>) about 'PowerPoint??
Best Book to Learn Quickly??', on Sat, 27 Mar 2004:

"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:nlhb60dr9cq9l2p2icut2bmn1gnm19i0mu@4ax.com...
| I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
| client.
|
| Thanks!
|
| ...Jim Thompson

Powerpoint is highly unreccomended. You should not have bought it you
should have requested that they lend you a copy.

At the same time you should have requested that they provide some
example presentations given by users within the company.

Having reviewed the material provided you will have gained a basic idea
about the standard powerpoint presentation.

At this point you will be able to assemble a number of slides from your
latest holiday, pick up your projector and screen and wag it.

Unfortunately you will be caught out by virtue of the fact that your
'powerpoint presentation' is marginally more interesting than the usual
fair.

And that's using your holiday snaps..... you know, the shit you post
here along with temperature/humidity/snow updates.

DNA


You deserve a medium-sized LOL for that.
Click to expand...
Good idea! I'll put a picture of the owl in there ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice:(480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax:(480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

Throughout the history of this great country there have actually
been people of only two political persuasions: fighters and cowards.
WE MUST NOT LET THE LATTER PREVAIL IN THE NEXT ELECTION!
 
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:37:58 -0800, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@highlandSNIPtechTHISnologyPLEASE.com> wrote:
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 12:04:09 -0800, Jeff Liebermann
jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us> wrote:




Somewhere in the early '70s, TI decided to go into the computer
business and build ASC, the TI Advanced Scientific Computer. The only
tangible result of the project was a superior way to shoot rubber
bands.
Click to expand...
ISTR they sold 7 of those, but who knows if there was any profit...
water-cooled semiconductor memory, gee whiz.



--
_______________________________________
John E. Todd <> jtodd@island.net

Note: Ensure correct polarity prior to connection.
 
Jim Thompson <thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?
Click to expand...

The UK "...in Easy Steps" series titles are pretty good in my
experience. Presumably you have PowerPoint 2003, so try "PowerPoint
2003 in easy steps" ISBN: 1-84078-270-6, price: Ł10.99 (about 20 USD),
Publication Date: 29th January 2004, Pages: 192.

Lots of sources, such as http://www.ineasysteps.com/books/?1840782706
or of course Amazon.

--
Terry Pinnell
Hobbyist, West Sussex, UK
 
Jim Thompson wrote:
I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompson
Click to expand...
The insistence is probably due to the fact they will ask you for the PP
file so that they can include it with all the others in a single PC
controlled presentation slide control program and/or easily disseminate
the slides in-house via email attachment and/or include one or more of
your slides in a derivative in-house presentation "seamlessly". Visit
your local Barnes & Noble for a "For Dummies" style tutorial that touts
getting you "up and running" quickly, and be sure to get an additional
text ( probably by QUE) that covers the graphics Import features as this
may be the most valuable capability for you.
 
Create PowerPoint Presentations in a Weekend.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/103-3016901-2520656

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP]
http://www.echosvoice.com

"maxfoo" <maxfooHeadFromButt@punkass.com> wrote in message
news:et9c60p540n5npiqptmf5296u1gvmtrh2t@4ax.com...
On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:48:43 -0800, Dan Richardson
ChangeThisToCallSign>@mendolink.com> wrote:

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 11:25:41 -0700, Jim Thompson
thegreatone@example.com> wrote:

I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!

...Jim Thompso

I suggest getting PowerPoint for Dummies. It will get you out of the
gate and running pretty fast and help you become familiar most of the
basic operations.

73,

Danny


Nah, waste of money, cheaper to use usenet and post your question at
microsoft.public.powerpoint



Remove "HeadFromButt", before replying by email.
Click to expand...
 
Jim:

[snip]
I just bought PowerPoint upon insistence by a *very large* potential
client.

Any recommendations for best book to get?

Thanks!
:
Click to expand...
:
I'm starting to feel that way. Man! M$ can sure make obtuse software
:-(

...Jim Thompson
[snip]
Click to expand...

Hey, I use PP all the time, for much the same reasons as you have
encountered. Literally all of my clients
use it, the VC's that I work with use it, and.. I have found that they often
incorporate my own PP stuff into
their presentations. Like most widespread MS stuff, PP is just too
ubiquitous to ignore. Especially if you travel
and expect your presentation tool kit to work "everywhere". I usually take
my PP's on laptop and on a
CD that way if there is a problem with my laptop, I've still got the CD and
it runs on their computers
and projectors. Just a couple of months ago I got off an airplane at SFO
and my laptop got dropped
an hour or so before I was to make a presentation in Palo Alto! Good thing
I had the PP on the CD
it ran off the CD on my clients' computer and projector. Saved by the CD
and PP!

PP is simply a tool. I seldom use it to build those booring mind numbing
bulleted point lists, etc...

I use PP mainly to frame and support three of the most important things
contained in my presentations to
clients and customers: graphics, graphics, and more graphics.

My PP presentations are short [few slides] but chock full of imported
graphics: jpeg photographs, Spice
schematics, oscilographs, mathematical graphs [Bode Plots, FFT spectra,
etc...] and from time to time maybe
a spread sheet and at most one or two equations.

When I do the latter I use MathType and import the equations as 'big"
graphics. I only use the odd equtaion
when I need to blind someone with Science, otherwise it's pictures. If you
use LTSpice, you can export d
then paste schematic bit maps or a waveform bit maps, etc... directly into a
PP slide. It's quite simple to do.

And so other than using PP as a tool to frame and support my own graphical
stuff I don't use,and haven't bothered
to learn, most of the indigenous PP "features". Don't have the time, I
gotta spend time doing design to make $$$.

Most viewers of my "presentations" have commented that my technical
presentations have "impact".

I've heard them say, "Wow, he uses photographs in his PP presentations!"
Can't beat the reality of photography!

All that said then, as you can tell, my usage of PP is somewhat elementary
and did not require me to learn much MS
mumbo jumbo.

And... I never bought a book!

Mostly I taught myself the little PP methodology that I do know just by
using the built in Help. In fact I am
embarassed when, after seeing my presentations, folks ask me how I became so
accomplished with PP? I'm
not!

I simply learned how to import, and arrange within, PP graphics that I
produce or plagiarize elesewhere. I
use very few bulleted lists.

One hint, since I am an old time "chalk talk" kinda guy I get frustrated
when operating a slide show from a
keyboard, cuz I can't run up to the screen and write on it, circle things,
etc. So I found that it is useful to be
able to draw a few lines, arrows, and circles on my PP slides in real time
as I make the presentations and
while folks ask me questions about the photos, photomicrographs of chips,
circuit details, etc...

When running the PP presentation in slide show mode just right click the
mouse and select "pointer options"
"pen color", etc... then you can "temporarily" write "by hand" on the slide
using the mouse as folks view it
and question you about it. I do this right on the slides in real time just
like a chalk talk at a black board.
Great for drawing attention to, and emphasizing, a particular part of a
graphic or schematic, etc...

Hope all this helps...

--
Peter
Professional Consultant - Signal Processing and Analog Electronics
Indialantic By-the-Sea, FL.
 
"Peter O. Brackett" wrote ...
One hint, since I am an old time "chalk talk" kinda guy
I get frustrated when operating a slide show from a
keyboard, cuz I can't run up to the screen and write on
it, circle things, etc. So I found that it is useful to be
able to draw a few lines, arrows, and circles on my PP
slides in real time as I make the presentations and while
folks ask me questions about the photos, photomicrographs
of chips, circuit details, etc...

When running the PP presentation in slide show mode
just right click the mouse and select "pointer options"
"pen color", etc... then you can "temporarily" write
"by hand" on the slide using the mouse as folks view it
and question you about it. I do this right on the slides
in real time just like a chalk talk at a black board. Great
for drawing attention to, and emphasizing, a particular
part of a graphic or schematic, etc...
Click to expand...
And in a multi-location (and/or muli-shift) environment, the
ability to transmit (or record) this completely electonically-
generated presentation graphics saves literally millions of $$$
in travel (and overtme) costs for a large organization. That is
most certainly the case with my employer. Use of NetMeeting
(for sharing in real-time across locations) and MS Producer
(for recording presentations with PP) is widespread.

I have even used NetMeeting with a person in the cubicle
next-door because it is more convienent to sit directly at
your computer and see what they are demonstrating (and
try it for yourself) than peering over their shoulder in their
office.
 
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