What's New in PowerPoint 2003 Most of what's new in PowerPoint 2003 is found behind the scenes processes and features that make it easier to share PowerPoint slides and work on them in a variety of environments. If you're brand new to PowerPoint, none of this makes any difference because it's all new to you. But if you've used earlier versions of PowerPoint and are looking for what's new, here's the list: Updated viewer The viewer enables you to display a PowerPoint slide show without having PowerPoint installed. This new viewer provides higher-fidelity output and better support for graphics, animations, and media. The viewer can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site and can be used on Windows 98 or later. Package for CD You can package a slide show along with the viewer and write it directly to a CD. You can then play the slide show directly from the CD, even if PowerPoint isn't installed on the computer you use to play the show. New slide show navigation tools The subtle menu button that displays at the lower left during a slide show presentation has been expanded, making it easier than ever to navigate or to use the pen and annotation features. Improved slide show annotations You can make annotations directly on the slide show and then keep the annotations for future reference. Smart tags Formerly available only in other Office applications, smart tags can be used to initiate actions for which you'd typically open other programs. Advanced users and information technology staff may especially find this feature quite useful. Workgroup features If you work in a networked environment and collaborate with others on PowerPoint slide presentations, you can take advantage of several new features from the Office 2003 suite that help manage documents and protect information. Additional features Additional features of PowerPoint 2003 include support for tablet PCs and the Research task pane, including a thesaurus.
Whether or not you're new to PowerPoint, this book will help you with the mechanics of PowerPoint. More importantly, it will also show you real-life context and experiences that will help you use PowerPoint effectively. And, after all, that's the point! The Absolute Minimum If you've been somewhat hesitant or unsure about using PowerPoint, I hope you're convinced that it can be a powerful tool to enhance your communication and presentation skills. In this chapter, you have learned the following: PowerPoint can be a powerful tool to help you make effective presentations. There can and should be a point to using PowerPoint. Although some people might use PowerPoint poorly, you can consciously choose the right elements and procedures to enhance rather than detract from you presentation. PowerPoint can be used not only for business presentations but also as a powerful teaching tool. There are many unique uses for PowerPoint, such as posters, handouts, Web pages, and more. PowerPoint 2003 is not dramatically different from other versions, but certain new features increase its power and versatility.
In Chapter 2, "PowerPoint Quickstart," you'll learn how to create a basic slide show, how to save and print it, and how to make a presentation. |
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