Powerpoint sucks...

[Jason1]

My brother's got this CD that is in powerpoint form, looks like its just one big powerpoint file. We dont have powerpoint, and I was wondering if there is any way to view the slides without having powerpoint? If not, any way to get powerpoint for free, or some program that will open the powerpoint file?

[Bond]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=428d5727-43ab-4f24-90b7-a94784af71a4&displaylang=en
http://download.openoffice.org/1.1.4/index.html

[gekko]

Apple's Keynote.

[Null]

Bond hit it right on the nose. OpenOffice works wonderfully, i prefer that over MS office. plus its nice cuz its also in linux.

[Jason1]

Looks like that powerpoint viewer will be good enough for me, thanks bond.

[Canyarion]

But if you need a free, competing version of Office, you should try OpenOffice!! It's great, I use it all the time.

[gekko]

What's the deal with Open Office? I used it before, didn't think it was that great. While for an open source project, it was amazing, but they still had so far to come before I would consider doing anything but installing it for looks.

I completely understand the hatred for Microsoft and its many monopolies, but give me a break here, Office is one of those programs they actually did a good job on. Apple's old office suite didn't come close to touching the capabilities of Office. The new software, Keynote and Pages, work great, but still I find myself using Office when I need to type a paper or make a presentation. It's powerful, it's easy to use, and the file format, while not very compatible, works great due to the high distribution of Office.

If you're really looking for an Office alternative, I suggest you look right back to Office. Microsoft Office 2004 for OS X is without a doubt, the best version of Office ever released. Looks nicer, works better, has a better toolbar layout, Entourage is the best email app ever, and Powerpoint has numerous improvements over its PC counterpart. That is, when you guys finally switch to shut me up.

[Null]

whats the deal with open office?

1. free
2. from everything i've done, or need to do, it does everything that MS office does
3. looks very simular to office, easy to find options when used to ms office.
4. Actually comes with some extra programs i find useful that i dont see in MS office.

what it all comes down to to me though, is im not willing to pay for that type of program, i find MS office to be a waste of money for me right now, (unless i had a job that needed all thoes things). and i dont care to do what many others do and just download a copy off the net.

i dont find it has anything to do with hatred for MS, because i could care less who makes it. a good program is a good program.

[Canyarion]

Only thing I encountered that's missing: word art. OO can't get that right.