How will the iPad impact corporate presentations?
Jan Schultink gives us his first thoughts on the iPad and presentations here. In the information and videos I’ve seen, I think Apple has addressed Jan’s fourth point because I saw a video of a marker and a highlighter being used on a Keynote presentation in full screen mode (watch the video at Engadget starting at 0:50). But here are my thoughts from a corporate perspective, remembering that all I have to go on are the reports and videos from the launch event, I haven’t seen an actual device.
First, the size. It is too big to carry in a pocket, so I am not sure how much more convenient it would be compared to a netbook running a Windows operating system that can run full PowerPoint. Given the corporate IT structures, I think most IT departments would lean towards something they know instead of something that has more challenges when looking for more portability.
Second, the software. The full Office suite will not likely be available for a long time, if ever. So presenters will be using Keynote as the presentation software. I saw a report yesterday that said that it will read both PPT and PPTX file formats, which, if true, is a good thing. But as with any software reading files from different software, the compatibility is not 100%. The uncertainty over whether a feature will work after transported to Keynote will be a concern.
Third, the OS. While using the iPhone OS makes it familiar to the millions of users who own iPhones or iPod Touches, the OS has limitations, such as a lack of multi-tasking. With presentations incorporating content from other programs through hyperlinking, this limitation may become a problem for presenters. Again, the netbook running Windows that allows full use of PowerPoint features will provide stiff competition to the iPad for corporate presenters.
I am not sure whether the iPad is aimed at corporate usage or not. But if it is, these areas will need to be addressed before we see large scale adoption for presenters.
First, the size. It is too big to carry in a pocket, so I am not sure how much more convenient it would be compared to a netbook running a Windows operating system that can run full PowerPoint. Given the corporate IT structures, I think most IT departments would lean towards something they know instead of something that has more challenges when looking for more portability.
Second, the software. The full Office suite will not likely be available for a long time, if ever. So presenters will be using Keynote as the presentation software. I saw a report yesterday that said that it will read both PPT and PPTX file formats, which, if true, is a good thing. But as with any software reading files from different software, the compatibility is not 100%. The uncertainty over whether a feature will work after transported to Keynote will be a concern.
Third, the OS. While using the iPhone OS makes it familiar to the millions of users who own iPhones or iPod Touches, the OS has limitations, such as a lack of multi-tasking. With presentations incorporating content from other programs through hyperlinking, this limitation may become a problem for presenters. Again, the netbook running Windows that allows full use of PowerPoint features will provide stiff competition to the iPad for corporate presenters.
I am not sure whether the iPad is aimed at corporate usage or not. But if it is, these areas will need to be addressed before we see large scale adoption for presenters.
posted by Unknown at 7:27 AM
2 Comments:
Dave,
We all will have to wait and see how useful an iPad will be for presentations. I believe is that it will eventually replace the laptop for most presenters. But focusing on the possible lack of a full version of Powerpoint on an iPad misses many of the points you often make regrading presentation simplicity. As I have read in your posts (and in those of other presentation experts), the presentation should focus on the exchange of information and not be a show about how many Powerpoint bells and whistles the presenter has "mastered."
Maybe the iPad will not have a full version of Keynote (or Powerpoint), but that maybe a good thing as presenters will not try to "dazzle" us with unnecessary and annoying animation, slide transitions, and flying text.
Bob
bobdaly@mac.com
You may want to take a look at MightyMeeting application for iPad. It lets you manage a cloud-based library of presentations directly from your device. You can also start and join web meetings using an iPad. More info at www.MightyMeeting.com.
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