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.

  6 months Same as CASH!*

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

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awesome-backgrounds.-com

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Crystal Graphics

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Digital Juice

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Harvard Graphics

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IBM

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Microsoft

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PointeCast

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QPresenter

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Serious Magic

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ThinkFree

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* 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.

Keynote

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 -