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Overview

The name of this book is a bit of a misnomer. One would think it is all about PowerPoint 2007. That is only partially correct. A better name, in my mind anyway, would be something like "Presentations from Start to Finish Using PowerPoint 2007 as Your Tool".

In addition to wonderful instruction on how to use PowerPoint 2007, approximately one third of this book is about the soft skills needed to build and deliver a presentation - from start to finish.

What an added bonus!

Features

• learn to integrate PowerPoint 2007 with other Office programs
• use enhanced graphics capabilities to really make your point
• themes and custom layouts help you design eye catching presentations
• use video, sound, pictures and animation
• publish for the web
• learn to deliver your presentation with skill and ease
• the companion CD contains the complete book in PDF format -- a great resource for the traveling presenter

Pros and Cons

Pros

• for the novice or experienced presenter alike
• comprehensive resource for any presenter
• easy to locate a specific area of instruction
• lots of quick tips
• sections within chapters are short so you can quickly learn what you need and move on

Cons

• real life examples of how and when to use specific chart types would be helpful in addition to how to create them
• I'm a visual learner and the lack of color anywhere in this book makes it just that -- lacking
  Guide Review of "Special Edition Using Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007"
  
  Three highly credentialed authors collaborated on this book. Whether you are a seasoned "PowerPointer" or are totally new to the program, you will find a wealth of information here on using this new version of PowerPoint. Patrice-Anne Rutledge and Geetesh Bajaj show you all the tricks to create a polished and successful presentation using PowerPoint 2007. The book reads easily and flows nicely from one feature to the next. The Table of Contents is so comprehensive that you can easily locate any specific aspect of the creation process quickly.
  
  Tom Mucciolo is an expert presenter and fills you in on all the tips and tricks he has learned about making presentations that hit the mark. If you don't have the skills to get your message across, it won't matter how fabulous your PowerPoint slide show is. This section of the book is a goldmine of information about the most overlooked parts of the presentation -- the planning and the delivery.
  
  The Bottom Line
  
  This book would be a wonderful addition to your reference library. Don't think of it as just a book about PowerPoint 2007. This book is about all aspects of a presentation for any topic -- the concept, the planning, the creation and the delivery, right up to how to plug in the hardware.
  
  If you ever, even once, need to make a presentation using PowerPoint, you cannot go wrong with this book.