The Bottom Line
Pros
- clear instructions presented in a friendly manner
- something for those who have passed the beginner stage
- section of color plates enhances the user experience
- lots of extras included on companion CD
Cons
- since I have to give a "con", place the color plates where the point is being made
Description
- get the most out of color in your presentation
- learn to use master slides and templates to your advantage
- learn all about AutoShapes and how they can be used to replace boring bullets
- add images, diagrams, charts and maps
- use sound, motion and effects to the best advantage
- add interactivity to the presentation and link to other documents
- integrate with other Microsoft programs
- tips on delivering your presentation
- lots of tips, tricks and problem solving
- bonus CD with lots of useful and fun resources
Guide Review - "Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies" by Geetesh Bajaj
Geetesh Bajaj, a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP, offers a multitude of tips, shortcuts and ideas for finishing touches to set your PowerPoint presentations apart from the norm. This book can easily be followed by a beginner, but assumes that you already know the basics of PowerPoint. It gives the user ideas and how-to's on adding pizzazz to presentations.The chapter on color alone is worth the price of the book. Geetesh shows you how to get the most out of color, a frequently misused feature in PowerPoint presentations. Additional color plates in the center of the book, emphasize the points made in this chapter.
I was intrigued by the section on AutoShapes. I have rarely used them myself, except for the standard basic shapes. Geetesh goes the extra mile to show you how to add interest to slides using AutoShapes as a replacement for bulleted text. I know my next presentation will be incorporating some of the ideas presented in this chapter.
For the advanced user of PowerPoint, learn how to add other media such as Flash animation and videos and how to rip tracks from audio CDs to use in your presentation. Lastly, Geetesh provides his top ten favorite tips and addresses ten common PowerPoint problems.
All in all, you can't go wrong with the purchase of this book. The added bonus is the many valuable resources included on the companion CD, such as SmartDraw 7 and Camtasia Studio 3, as well as a bundle of royalty free photos, backgrounds, textures, templates and sample files.
