[chat] Re: [SLUG] MS Powerpoint is a killer

[Jeff Waugh <jdub@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<quote who="Kevin Waterson">

> Tufte, who concludes that ultimately, PowerPoint software oozes "an 
> attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch." 

Taking to chat, as it's off-topic for the main list.

The interesting thing about this point is that it's entirely subjective -
why does a slide presentation have anything to do with commercialism and/or
sales? We know that a huge amount of exposition in the Free Software
community happens through slide presentations at conferences and on the web.
Sure, it's a kind of sales - selling the idea. Easier and cheaper than
acetate. Or handing out photocopies.

I fear that we are going to see many more doomsayers and horror stories
about democratised media (such as blogs and speaker-written presentations),
because... people... can't handle the imperfections and BLUNTNESS of real...
people... ;-)

Besides, the supercharged sales and marketing presentations are done up
properly by designers and speechwriters, just like the words of the guy up
front. Coddling up clarity of ideas in slides is probably as tough as
usability, print design, yada yada. Your average joe won't be able to do it,
so why crap on him for it? Meanwhile, Tufte's website clarity / design is
horrid. Now I want to see him lie back and complain about his childhood to
JAKOB NIELSEN!

Hooray for the NYT.

- Jeff

-- 
linux.conf.au 2004: Adelaide, Australia         http://lca2004.linux.org.au/
 
  "Ever since GNOME development began, I have urged people to aim to make
   it as good as the Macintosh.  To try to be like Windows is to try for
                      second-best." - Richard Stallman