Presentation

Ratings and Reviews of Presentation Software

Presentation Software

Presentation software is one of the best software investments you can make for your business. Need to do a speech? Presentation software is essential to taking advantage of the old adage "a picture is worth a thousand words". Need to talk about your new product or service with a customer? There is nothing like a presentation to help you communicate the features and benefits of your product or service. Want to let potential customers, partners or just the world see what you're thinking? Learn about your products or services? A presentation posted on your web site (downloadable or viewable) will make it happen.

The "industry standard" is clearly Microsoft's PowerPoint. In fact, "send me a 'PowerPoint'" is often interchangeable with "send me a presentation" these days in the business community. PowerPoint = presentation. However, if you're a rebel, just don't like Microsoft, are looking for plug-ins for PowerPoint or just want to learn more about the software before you purchase it - read on.

So, what should you think about when you're purchasing Presentation software?

Your System: Although simple presentations that are text based won't put much of a load on your system, if you "get into" developing more elaborate presentations with animated graphics, video, audio and complex diagrams, the amount of resources your presentation software will "eat up" will expand exponentially. Make sure that your PC more than meets the minimum manufacturer's system requirements. If your system can't keep up, you'll be unhappy - and waste valuable time (and your money upgrading after you've experienced a good deal of frustration). Critical system components in the world of presentation software are: memory (lots of it!), graphics card (a good one), monitor (flat panel best, big is good in any configuration), the CPU (faster is better) and your hard drive (big is better here too!).

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Compatibility: File formats - importing and exporting, especially graphics, animation and videos - everything needs to work "neatly" together.

Ease of Use/Training: Is the software easy to use? If the software requires time to understand and use professionally, does the manufacturer provide training (included on the software CD, Web based or partner-based)?

Support: The more complex the software, the more important it is for the manufacturer to stand behind it and help you if you run into trouble. Make sure that the software manufacturer has a robust customer support site and process before you buy!
Features and Functions: If you need it now, make sure it's there. If you think you might need it later, make sure it will BE there if it already isn't!
Upgrade Costs: Once you've invested in software, you'll have to keep investing in the upgrades. Make sure you look into the costs of upgrades (historically) for your software, or if it's brand new product, the track record of the company producing the software.

Ready to choose your presentation software? Let's get going! (That is if you haven't already decided on PowerPoint, want to learn more about it, plug-ins for it - or want to know about the competition!)

Some vendors offer more than one package in this category. We'll review them in table format within that vendor's detailed review.

Presentation Software Review

Presentation Software*

(Rankings - best, 5 symbols, worst, 1 symbol)

Company	Best For*	Simple Start-Up	Cost	Time Savings	Ease of Use	Works With	Support	Features	Overall Rating
123ppt.com	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYYY	ppp+	iiii1/2	%%%%
Apple	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iiii	%%%%
awesome-backgrounds.-com	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYYY	ppp	iiii	%%%%
Crystal Graphics	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$1/2	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp1/2	iii1/2	%%%1/2
Digital Juice	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYYY	ppp1/2	iii1/2+	%%%1/2+
Harvard Graphics	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	ppp1/2	iii	%%%1/2
IBM	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY	pppp	iii1/2	%%%1/2
Microsoft	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYYY	pppp1/2	iiii1/2	%%%%1/2
PointeCast	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹	@@@@	YYY1/2	pppp	iiii	%%%%
QPresenter	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹1/2	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iiii1/2	%%%%
Serious Magic	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹1/2	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iiii1/2	%%%%
ThinkFree	ARP	¹¹¹¹	$$$$	¹¹¹¹1/2	@@@@	YYY	ppp	iiii1/2	%%%%

* A = Amateur, R = Rookie, P = Pro

123Powerpoint.com

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

123ppt.com's PowerPoint templates, backgrounds, fonts, photos, music and sound effects are simple to install and integrate into your presentation.

Cost - $$$$

123ppt.com's templates are priced at $14.95 each, background designs at $4.95 each, fonts at $39.95 each, photos at $19.95 each, background music at $4.95 per clip and sound effects at $2.95 per effect. Presentation development services are also available on a quote basis.

Software	Price	O/S Supported	Overview	Features	Compatibility
Templates	$14.95	Windows and Macintosh	PowerPoint Templates	Graphic "shell" for your presentation content Includes Slide and Title Master in both display and print optimized formats Templates available in a number of categories (and color schemes) including: Animals Arts and Entertainment Buildings, Homes and Gardens Celebrations and Holidays City and Urban Concepts: Business Concepts: Symbols Education Finance and Retail Food and Drink General Health and Beauty Industry and Transportation Maps, Globes and Space Nature People: Business People: Kids and Families People: Lifestyle and Portraits People: Mature Adults People: Teens and Young Adults Science and Medicine Sports and Recreation Technology and Communication Travel	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Background Designs	$4.95	Windows and Macintosh	PowerPoint Backgrounds	Delivered as uncompressed JPEG file Backgrounds available in a number of categories (and color schemes) including: Animals Arts and Entertainment Buildings, Homes and Gardens Celebrations and Holidays City and Urban Concepts: Business Concepts: Symbols Education Finance and Retail Food and Drink General Health and Beauty Industry and Transportation Maps, Globes and Space Nature People: Business People: Kids and Families People: Lifestyle and Portraits People: Mature Adults People: Teens and Young Adults Science and Medicine Sports and Recreation Technology and Communication Travel	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Animated Backgrounds	$99.95 per collection	Windows and Macintosh	PowerPoint Backgrounds	Run at 25 frames per second Created as seamless loop Collections include: Electric Blue, Electric Green, Electric Orange, Electric Purple, Electric Red, Electric Yellow
Font Library	$39.95 per font	Windows and Macintosh	PowerPoint Fonts	12 fonts designed by 123-Powerpoint.com Available in Postscript and TrueType formats Font libraries are available for purchase as well as individual fonts	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Photo Gallery	$9.95 purchase 5 photos for the price of 3 ($29.85 versus regular price of $49.75)	Windows and Macintosh	High Resolution Photos	Delivered as in high resolution 1600x1200 pixel format Photos available in a number of categories including: Animals Arts and Entertainment Buildings, Homes and Gardens Celebrations and Holidays City and Urban Concepts: Business Concepts: Symbols Education Finance and Retail Food and Drink General Health and Beauty Industry and Transportation Maps, Globes and Space Nature People: Business People: Kids and Families People: Lifestyle and Portraits People: Mature Adults People: Teens and Young Adults Science and Medicine Sports and Recreation Technology and Communication Travel	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Background Music	$4.95	Windows and Macintosh	Music Clips	Delivered in 16-bit, 44100Hz Stereo CD quality WAV format Can be added to the presentation without sound icons or loop pauses Background Music categories include: Ambient Sounds Dance Drum and Beat Energy Grooves Urban Rhythms World Beat	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Sound Effects	$2.95	Windows and Macintosh	Sound Effects	Delivered in 16-bit, 44100Hz Stereo CD quality WAV format Can be added to the presentation without sound icons or loop pauses	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh
Sound Effects and Music CD Collections	Ambient Sounds $109.95, Dance CD $119.95, Drum & Beat CD $119.95, Energy CD $149.95, Grooves CD $144.95, Sound Effects CD $144.95, Urban Rhythms CD $49.95, World Beat CD $49.95, The Producer CD $699.95	Windows and Macintosh	Sound Effects and Music	Ambient Sounds CD - 37 background music loops Dance CD - 43 background music loops Drum & Beat CD - 43 background music loops Energy CD - 62 background music loops Grooves CD - 51 background music loops Sound Effects CD - 88 sound effects Urban Rhythms CD - 16 background music loops World Beat CD - 19 background music loops The Producer CD - entire library of Background Music Loops and Sound Effects on 8 CDs - 359 sound effects and music loops	Microsoft PowerPoint 97 and later for PC, 2000, XP and 2000 and X for Macintosh

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

Great additions to build a snazzy, snappy PowerPoint presentation quickly and efficiently.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Simple to use additions for PowerPoint. 123ppt.com also offers lots of "how tos" on their web site in case you aren't a PowerPoint Pro and need help using Slide Masters and Backgrounds or inserting images or music/sound effects into your presentation.

Works With - YYYY

123ppt.com's add-ons for PowerPoint are both Windows and Macintosh compatible.

Support - ppp+

123ppt.com has lots of helpful information available on how to effectively use their products both in the main product description area and in a FAQ on their web site. If you need more help, you can fill out their online form or email them.

Features - iiii1/2

Some of the best tools we've seen to help you create a PowerPoint presentation that is professional and will set you and your company apart from your competition. The templates and backgrounds are rich in their look and feel , the photos are high resolution and even stunning and the sound effects and music loops slick and "sassy". And, if you need even more help - specialized graphics, music, fonts, photos - even someone to construct the presentation for you - 123PowerPoint.com can do that as well.

Overall Rating - %%%%

We're happy the folks at this company contacted us! Wonderful tools for building presentations that have are professional, "snappy" and memorable. On top of that, pricing is competitive and more than reasonable. We think 123ppt.com's products are real "winners".

Apple

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Apple is known for this - Keynote (now iWork) is simple to install and you'll build your first presentation FAST.

Cost - $$$$1/2

iWork with Keynote is priced at $79.00.

Software

Price

O/S Supported

Overview

Features

Compatibility

Keynote 3, now part of Apple's iWork '06

$79.00, family pack $99.00

MacintoshOS X 10.3.6 or later

Presentation and Word Processing Software

Cinema quality presentations and animations
iLife Media Browser
Safari web view
Presenter view on second display
Self-running, interactive slide shows
Apple-designed themes
Word processing
Free-form graphic canvas
Apple-themed HD designs
3D charts
Freeform curves, shapes and masks
Tables with calculations
Reviewer comments

Import and export Microsoft PowerPoint

Export PDF, QuickTime and Macromedia Flash

Import RTF & AppleWorks and PDF, JPG, TIFF, PSD, PNG and QuickTime

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

You'll build your professional presentations quickly with Keynote - and you get Word Processing as well with Pages software.

Ease of Use - @@@@

Hey, it's Macintosh software developed by Apple, of course it's easy to use.

Works With - YYY

Hmmm... Apple, Macintosh.....

Support - pppp

Apple has an extensive knowledge base, technical support and more on their web site. Apple works to take care of its customers.

Features - iiii1/2

Animations and high quality presentation software - with word processing at an unbelievably low price.

Overall Rating - %%%%

A great, Apple-based alternative to PowerPoint for the Mac user. With its ability to interoperate with PowerPoint - a good choice for folks who want to be "Apple-centric" - and you get word processing too at a great price!

awesomebackgrounds.com

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

awesomebackgrounds.com's backgrounds and templates are easy to download, install and use in your PowerPoint presentation.

Cost - $$$$

awesomebackgrounds.com pricing is detailed in the table below.

Software	Price	O/S Supported	Overview	Features	Compatibility
PowerPoint Templates	1 set $17.00, 5 sets $45.00, 10 sets $70.00, 15 sets $99.00	Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 2000, XP	PowerPoint Templates	Themed Templates - Advertising and Media, Animals, Babies, Buildings, Business Air Travel, Business Blurred, Business Meetings, Business Stress, Business Themes 1, Business themes 2, Business Themes 3, Business Themes 4, Business Words 1, Business Words 2, Children, Christmas & New Year, Communication, Computing, Construction, Decades & Years, e-business, Energy and Power, Entertainment, Environment, Financial 1, Financial 2, Food & Drink, Graduation and Careers, Health Care, Holiday, Industry, K12 Education, Law and Order, Maps and Flags, Medical 1, Medical 2, Medical and Pharmaceutical, Medical Research, Military, Music, Patriotic, Pharmaceutical, Presentations 1, Presentations 2, Real Life Textures, Religion 1, Religion 2, Safety at Work, Sales & Marketing, Science and Chemicals, Security, Space, Sports, Technology 1, Technology 2, Training and Education, Transport Logistics, Travel, Viruses, Weddings, Water Colored Templates - Blue 1, Blue 2, Blue 3, Blue & a Hue, Cyan, Gray, Green, Misc, Multi 1, Multi 2, Orange, Purple, Red, White Light, Yellow Animated Templates - Earth Globe, US Flag PowerPoint Games - Dice, Jigsaw Animated Slides - Explosion PowerPoint Maps - US California, US Florida, US Texas	Apple Keynote, Corel Presentations, Corel Draw, Corel PhotoPaint, Lotus Freelance Graphics, Persuasion, Scala MultiMedia MM200 & InfoChannel, macromedia Director, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Macromedia Flash, Astound Presentation, Harvard Graphics, Sun StarOffice and OpenOffice, Adobe Photoshop, Jasc Paint Shop Pro

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

A quick and easy way to make your presentations more professional and "zippy" - real time savers!

Ease of Use - @@@@

awesomebackground.com's templates are very easy to use and include ready made: Title Slide, Line Graph, Blank Page, Bullet List, Pie Chart, Matching Color Scheme, Bar Chart and Diagram slides to use in your presentations - just fill them in with your data.

chess fallen king - powerpoint templates

Works With - YYYY

awesomebackground.com's templates can be used in both the Windows and Macintosh environments.

Support - ppp

awesomebackground.com's web site includes downloads and a "PowerPoint" tips area. If you need more help, email is your only option.

Features - iiii

A very wide selection of templates covering a wide array of topics, color schemes and more. We especially like how awesomebackgrounds.com includes a variety of slide layouts in their templates - as noted above - a Title Slide, Line Graph, Blank Page, Bullet List, Pie Chart, Matching Color Scheme, Bar Chart and Diagram. All images included with the templates are royalty free.

Overall Rating - %%%%

A fast, easy and cost effective way to add some "zip" and professionalism to your PowerPoint presentations - without hiring a graphic artist. If you need one or more templates - definitely worth the time you'll spend checking out their offerings to see if one or more meet your presentation needs.

Crystal Graphics

Simple Start-Up - ¹¹¹¹

Crystal Graphics PowerPlugs PowerPoint plug-ins offer an "easy" way to add more "zip" to your presentations. They install right into PowerPoint and just "click" on the function/plug-in icon you need. Adding a chart, 3D title, etc., from there is easy.

Cost - $$1/2

We use PowerPlugs at Home Office Reports, we just think they carry a premium price. Ultimate Combo 17 - $699.00 (includes Transitions Volumes I-VII, Templates Annual Subscription, Video Backgrounds Player with 76 bundled video clips, Animator I, Flash Clips - 3D Motion Graphics 1, Charts, Pictures Annual Subscription, FlashReady, Presentations to Go, PhotoActive FX Volumes I & II, SuperShapes Volumes I & II, 3D Titles Volumes I & II, Music Volumes I & II, Screensaver Creator, Quotations, Slides that Win!, Headings Volumes I & II) is the best deal, but we've detailed all the PowerPlugs offerings in the table that follows.

Software	Price	O/S Supported	Overview	Features	Compatibility
*Music for PowerPoint, Music I, Music II*	$39.00 per volume $69.00 for both volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Music Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	30 soundtracks including 180 unique music clips Free software updates
*Transitions I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII*	$59.00 per volume $249.00 for all six volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Slide Transition Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	70 transition effects per volume 3D transition effects Adds synchronized sound effects automatically Volume V has 20 animation styles including balloons, emerald screen, magical doors, paint ball, space cube, tunnel travel and wand Volume VI adds 18 animation styles Volume VII 17 animations Free software updates
*Templates I, II, III, IV, V, VI, Favorites I, II, III*	$49.00 per year, unlimited downloads	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Slide Template Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	30,000 templates, 60,000 backgrounds 2,000 templates include animation Each template includes a Title Master and a Slide Master, each with its own background
*Charts*	$99.00	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Charting Plug-In for PowerPoint	3D output 100 pre-formatted 2D & 3D chart templates 11 categories - basic, big data set, corporate, gradients, letter size black and white, letter size color, models, rendered, surveys, textured and trendlines 31 chart types - area, bar, bubble, column, histograms, lines, pies, scatter and surface
*PhotoActive FX Volume I, Volume II*	$19.00 per volume $35.00 for both volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Photo Effects Plug-In for PowerPoint	Animate photos 150 still and animated effects per volume Volume I - still photos effects - coloring, cookie cutters, edges, frames, fine arts, lights & shadows, rotations, text, texture arts and transformations; animated effects - full image, overlay text, image transitions in and out Volume II - still effects - distortions, edges, fine arts, frames, objects, perspective, text on background, text on image and transformations; animated effects - full image, text over image, text transitions, transitions in and out
*SuperShapes Volume I, Volume II*	$9.95 per volume $17.95 for both volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Still and Animated Shape Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	140 still and animated effects per volume Buttons, text frames, animated arrows All shapes are anti-aliased All shapes are customizable
*Quotations*	$9.95	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Quotations Plug-In for PowerPoint	45,000 quotations - accomplishment, ambition, business quote, determination, funny quotes, inspiration, love, motivation, others Built-in search tool
*Headings Volume I, Volume II*	$9.95 per volume $17.95 for both volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Heading Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	1,000 slide headings per volume Semi-transparent Resizable Headings in four styles per volume including 300 graphic elements 279 English words or phrases 36 styled letter and numbers 8 backdrops
*3D Title Animations Volume I, Volume II*	$49.00 per volume $89.00 for both volumes	Windows 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	3D Title Plug-In for PowerPoint	Still or animated 3D titles 30 title effects per volume All effects are editable Adds complementary sound effects Free software updates
*Flash Ready*	$149.00	Windows 98, 2000, XP	Flash Plug-Ins for PowerPoint	Select, preview, embed, loop Flash animation inside PowerPoint 90 Flash animations included - business icons, banners
*Presentations to Go*	$99.00	Windows 95, 98, NT, ME, 2000, XP	Presentation Shells for PowerPoint	23 topic-specific presentation shells including - Category Review, Change Proposal, Communicate Bad News, Company Overview, Company Strategic Analysis, Convincing People of a Problem, General Format, Identify Potential Problems, Identify the Problem, Investor Relations, New Project Proposal, Persuasive Presentation, Product Launch, Project Progress Report, Recommend an Alternative, Satisfying Your Customers, Sell to the Customer Interests, Share Information, Strategy Recommend., Teach Skills, Technical Presentation, Technical Sales, Work Update Contains graphics and tips on how to organize and present the presentation
*Screensaver Creator*	$49.00	Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, NT	Create Screensaver from PowerPoint Slide	Create screensavers from PowerPoint Includes SereneScreen Marine Aquarium Crystal screensaver
*PowerPlugs: Video Backgrounds Player and Content*	Player $149.00, 38 content volumes $99.00 each	Windows 2000, XP	Video Backgrounds for PowerPoint	Add full-screen moving backgrounds to PowerPoint presentations Each volume contains 25 background video clips Royalty free

Time Savings - ¹¹¹¹

PowerPlugs help you quickly add some pizzazz to your presentation - especially if you're not a graphic artist.

Ease of Use -

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