Microsoft Office

[RobinVossen]

Hallo all,

I am really really bored at school at this very moment.
As we have to learn Microsoft Office. It's deranged that we have to use this piece of software.
We also have to install it at home, but I cant as I only run Linux ^^
Oh by the way, this is a rant not a question.

Anywho, currently we need to learn Microsoft Powerpoint. We have about 4 hours a week in one go for a month to learn how it works.
Its just reading a text and I really think its mentally deranged.
I'd much rather spend some quality time with somebody else then being all quite in a building that has been deserted since 3PM. Why would I need MSpowerpoint anyway I asked my teacher. (its basicly he is just the guard to assure we wont escape )
Why would I need this?
Well we need this to make decent presentations. I have done quite a lot of TechTalks, always with a HTML-Based presentation.

Well this is enough rant for now.
I know the forums are not here for rants and that we normally use blogs for this.

But I really wanted to share the fustration to the linux world on how we are Pushed to use Mircosoft Closed Source Software.
It's not fair nor do I think it should be allowed..

Ah well

anywho, I'd like to know what you guys think..

--
Robin

[bigtomrodney]

Well, like it or not it's an industry standard worldwide. Regardless of your profession of choice you will almost certainly have to deal with PowerPoint presentations at some point. In fact, it seems that the argument on whether it is closed source or not is irrelevant - you seem to dislike it on principle.

There are two things to bear in mind here:

• There is an OpenOffice equivalent: OpenOffice Presentation
• You may like HTML, but PowerPoint is for rapid development of presentations
• HTML will not provide the type of dynamic content that is not only expected in presentations but is also beneficial in driving your point home.

It's all very well if you only like petrol cars, but if you want to work in an industry that uses diesel engines you'll be turning your nose up at it to spite yourself.

[RobinVossen]

Umm yea I guess that you are right.
However keep in mind I am rather fustrated being forced to be here

Anyway, HTML can be used for Rapid Development aswel.. If you use any WYSIWYG Editor.
OpenOffice is not equal to Microsoft office its way diffrent a lot of things just 'tick' diffrently.
I never understood why you'd want Dymanic Content.
but then again, I am a coder and for me a prefect presentation is black sheets with some text

The car this is right I guess. I dont really like to work with something as I know there are 'easier' ways to handle the thing the software manages

[hazel]

Why don't you just use OpenImpress for your homework, file your presentations in .ppt format and keep mum about the fact. Your teachers won't be any the wiser..

[Cabhan]

So I do agree, insofar that I suspect you could probably learn to use Powerpoint in two days if you sat down to it, and it is very annoying to be in a class where you are forced to do so and to learn things that seem obvious.

However, as has been said, it is an industry-standard piece of software, and OO Impress can do many of the same things that Powerpoint can, so learning the features of Powerpoint will teach you OO Impress at the same time.

Also, be aware that most presentations are HORRIBLE. If this course teaches you to make good presentations, even if it's on Powerpoint, you will be better. This may not be a goal, but learning to make a good presentation is always good. You will be making them in the future, I promise you.

[minthaka]

It took me around 45 miuntes to get in-depth experiences with Powepoint, when I've finally decided to learn it some years ago. It's so simple... I don't know why waste a month to study it. Openoffice Impress can do similar things, and you can do your work in it, and save as .ppt.

[RobinVossen]

@minthaka
Exactly my point. Thats why its been bothering me so much. If I'd only have half an hour I'd be fine with it.
@hazel
I dont have homework I just need to be in class.

At the end of the lesson I was playing about with NASM and Macros in Powerpoint. Loading Visual Basic Scripts that read my DLL I made with NASM to show a MsgBox..
I wasted my time the good way. I coded Assembler for PowerPoint ^^ I did show my teacher the 'Awesome' Macro I coded and he just said.. umm thats nice.. ^^

[L4Linux]

Read this post and it will change your view on what is a good presentation.
Gates, Jobs, & the Zen aesthetic

Steve Jobs probably uses the minimum amount of iWork features than anyone else.
Bill Gates presentations on the other hand are usually bloated.