Of course, just as it was two years ago, the value in this book is the accompanying CD. Bajaj has picked out several programs, both freeware/shareware and demo versions, to help you get the most out of your PowerPoint design efforts. The CD includes full versions of:
* TechSmith Camtasia 3
* TechSmith SnagIt 7
* Xara 3D 3
* Business Objects CX Now!
* Ppted Background Texture Collection
and demo versions of:
* TechSmith Camtasia Studio 3
* Xara 3D 6
* Sony Sound Forge
PLUS you get:
* Studio F PowerPoint Templates
* Liquid Cabaret Music Soundtracks
* Opuzz Music Sampler
* Style Workshop Drag and Drop Graphics
* Ron Leishman's Cartoon Sampler
* Movieclip.biz Video Clips
AND:
* 180 PowerPoint Backgrounds
* 3 Sample Flash SWFs
* 50 Readymade Frames
* 100 MIDI Music Scores
* 60 Images
* 275 PowerPoint Templates
from the author himself!
Cutting Edge PowerPoint 2007 For Dummies is a good update to a great book. I've used the older version quite a bit since I got it, and can see myself using this one just as much once I finally upgrade my version of Office.
Article comments
1 - Steve Hards
Geetesh Bajaj indeed provides clear and comprehensive instructions in this book - I reckon I'm pretty PowerPoint-savvy and it's the one that I keep by me for reference.
I was interested to note that you are going to try out some of the add-ins. Please do also take advantage of the free trial of my Opazity add-in (www.opazity.com), which came out too late to include in the book, but Geetesh wrote a nice review of it on his Indezine blog (here) and so did Tom Bunzel (here). I created Opazity to extend PowerPoint with an opaque-glass effect that I always wanted, but Microsoft never got around to including.
Regards, Steve