Cutting Edge PowerPoint For Dummies

by Geetesh Bajaj

Book Overview

Use these great ideas to help you make your point Create PowerPoint presentations with Flash(r) movies, Excel(r) charts, and more Okay, you've PowerPointed before, right? And you knew there must be... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764598171
• Release Date: December 2005
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

What I Wish EVERY Presenter Knew!

So you've been doing PowerPoint for years now. So you've even done your own custom templates. Now it's time to take your PowerPoint game to the next level. Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies was written by Geetesh Bajaj, a Microsoft PowerPoint MVP. That means that, while he doesn't actually work for Microsoft, he knows enough about PowerPoint that Microsoft tells people with questions to talk to him, and people like him. He's got the credentials to do this book. And this isn't a basic PowerPoint book. Bajaj assumes that you know your way around the software, and that you've got a basic understanding of computers. You won't find any tips on formatting text here (try the other PowerPoint book I reviewed for the basics). What you will find are plenty of tips for spicing up your presentations. One of the things I notice most often in PowerPoint presentations is that the people designing them have no concept of what color combinations look good. Bajaj discusses contrasting colors, and how to use color combinations to make text stand out and be easier to read. Color plates located in the center of the book help to emphasize his point. If more people would pay attention to this simple tip, PowerPoint presentations would be far less painful to view. Bajaj then gives tips on enhancing presentations with the use of various forms of media -- video, audio, charts and diagrams, and animations including Flash -- in PowerPoint. He cautions the designer that overuse can be a bad thing, but shows how to make the best use of each of these features to create impressive PowerPoint slide shows. Probably the most valuable part of the book is the CD-ROM that comes with it. Bajaj has included several programs that are designed to enhance PowerPoint, and are referred to in the book. My favorite so far has been SmartDraw 7, which I've used to create tables and charts that PowerPoint's included application couldn't do. You will also find all the examples that Bajaj uses in the book, including backgrounds, slide templates, and Flash animation samples. I've only just started to scratch the surface of what's on this CD, but PowerPoint power-users will find these resources invaluable. There are a lot of people who need Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies - we all know one or two. Unfortunately, some of them won't buy it for themselves. Be a good friend and buy it for them. They will thank you, and the people who have to sit through their presentations will really thank you.

Excellent book, even if you are not a "dummy"

The author of this book sent me a sample chapter to include at my website and I was so intrigued by it, I decided to read the whole book, and was very impressed. Do yourself a favor and forget the "dummy" in the title. This book offers great insight into some of the not-so-obvious workarounds that can be used to get the most out of your presentations. So, it's not only helpful to people who are newer to PowerPoint, but also includes lots of goodies for the advanced PowerPoint user. I learned lots of ways to fine tune stuff that I've had to take outside of the program before to get the result I wanted. Geetesh shows lots of alternative ways to get the job done within the program. And, the texture files and other great stuff included on the CD are fantastic. The CD, itself, is worth the cost of the book. If you want to see a sample of the AutoShapes chapter, the full chapter is here at my website: http://personal-computer-tutor.com/geetesh/cepptfull01.html I believe you will agree with me and follow-up on this sample tutorial by buying the full book ... and I doubt you will be disapppointed. This is a much-needed guide into some of PowerPoint's secrets. Linda Johnson Linda's Computer Stop

The ultimate PowerPoint book...

Geetesh Bajaj is a (Microsoft Certified) expert on PowerPoint who runs the best website devoted to PowerPoint at www.indezine.com. His Cutting Edge PowerPoint for Dummies gives users the best guide for using PowerPoint in print. It contains how-to's, tips, and a CD with plenty to keep you busy. If you use PowerPoint or even think about using it...get this book!

Book with CD, or CD with Book?

Since everyone else here has been discussing the book (and there's not much left for me to add), I thought I'll focus on the CD included with the book. Unlike the millions of other CDs that are added as an afterthought to other books, this CD is different. First of all, the CD has software worth hundreds of dollars - it's not that you might use it all but if you even use a tenth of what is on offer, the book is going to cost you nothing! That's true. Consider that the book is free! And it's a damn good book. You do the math and I'll get back to creating better PowerPoint presentations.

A tremendous value for the time and money you invest here...

This is one of the more "timely" books I've read in awhile. It's Cutting Edge PowerPoint For Dummies by Geetesh Bajaj, and I plan on incorporating a number of things from this book in my next presentation at Lotusphere... Contents: Part 1 - Powering Up PowerPoint: PowerPointing with the Best of Them; Empowering Your PowerPoint Program; Color Is Life; Streamlining with Masters and Templates Part 2 - Achieving Visual Appeal: AutoShape Magic; Drawing in PowerPoint; Dressing Up the Text Stuff; Adding Images to Your Presentation; Pulling in Diagrams, Charts, Equations, and Maps Part 3 - Adding Motion, Sounds, and Effects: Listening and Watching - The Sound and Video Stuff; Moving On with Animations and Transitions Part 4 - Communicating Beyond the PowerPoint Program: Interactivity and Linking; Exchanging Information; Preparing and Delivering Your Awesome Presentation Part 5 - The Part of Tens: My Ten Favorites PowerPoint Tips; Ten PowerPoint Problems What's On The CD-ROM; Index I've put together my share of PowerPoint presentations, and I normally know enough to get the basics down. I'm a firm believer in "just because you can doesn't mean you should", and I try to stay away from font and animation overload. All of that is well and good, but it usually means my slides can lack a bit in the "pizazz" department. Bajaj has written a book that starts beyond the "what is PowerPoint" mark and starts to delve into all the features that can make your presentation stand out. Yes, there is plenty of time spent on how to animate things and such, but he also offers the caveat that too much activity is distracting, not informational. Use with caution. All versions of PowerPoint from 2000 through the current version are well-covered, so you're not shut out totally if you haven't bothered to keep up with Microsoft's latest offerings. On top of just learning about features you haven't played with before, the author offers up insights and tips based on his extensive experience with the product. You'll learn how best to avoid corrupted PowerPoint files, what features work well (and what features don't), as well as some hidden gems you probably don't know about. For instance, did you know that you can create a basic PowerPoint presentation using Notepad? Neither did I, and it's an intriguing way to get your thoughts and structure down "on paper" before you get distracted by all the PowerPoint bright shiny objects. This is also one of the few books which quickly ended up with a broken seal on the CD container. The full version of Camtasia 3 that's offered gratis is something I've long wanted to play with. Just in time for January's Lotusphere session... I usually get *something* out of most every book I read. Some books offer up more than a few "somethings". This one ended up in the very upper range of value for my time and money... Very good stuff...