Flipping through the Black Friday ads for Best Buy, it looks like Netbooks are going to be another hot holiday gift idea this year- some are on sale for less than $200. Cheaper and designed to be more portable than traditional laptops, Netbooks have some exciting capabilities. As consumers gear up for one of the biggest shopping days of the year, it is interesting for us in the tech world to see the Netbook buzz developing.

Revered tech blog GigaOm (recently, awesomely redesigned….) has a dedicated Netbooks section. Last week, Netbooks figured heavily in the conversation surrounding the release of Chrome’s OS and cloud computing. According to GigaOm, “The operating system [Google Chrome] is designed to imbue web applications with the ‘full functionality of desktop applications.’ As for the reasons behind the development of the new platform, they pointed to rapid growth in the  Netbook market — where Chrome OS is aimed — and cloud computing.”

Did they say a free operating system, aimed for the mobile worker on the go, with the purpose of providing all the online applications you need, anywhere you are? I’m sold!

This is something we believe in strongly at SlideRocket – affordable, cloud-based solutions aimed at making work easier.  Imagine a world where you never have to install or upgrade another software application on your computer – instead, you simply use powerful Netbooks and choose the best of breed web-based applications that meet your needs.  Ahhhh…simplicity, choice and the reassurance that you are always using an application’s latest and greatest version. It looks like the once considered need to have ‘desktop applications’ such as the office suite software may become a thing of the past.  Email, docs, calendars, spreadsheets and, of course, presentations — everything you could possibly want or need on your Netbook is now available to you, for free, and all on the web.

NetBooks + Chrome OS + web based apps will get us all that much closer to a fully web based world!

Maximum visual impact

The way you display information on your slides can make or break your presentation, yet many presenters struggle to structure their slides in the most compelling manner possible.  It’s a delicate balance – if your slides are dull and boring, you may lose your audience along the way.  On the other hand, if they’re too busy – crammed with images or too much text – attendees may be too distracted to absorb what you’re saying.  The key to success lies somewhere in between.

1. Use a Simple Background

You want your text, diagrams, and images to “pop” off the screen.  But, they will disappear when placed up against an elaborate background, minimizing their ability to convey key concepts.  A clean, simple background will ensure that audience attention is focused on the main points and ideas of your speech.

2. Smart Font Selection

Your audience should not have to struggle to view the content contained on your slides.  Additionally, text needs to be easily readable on handouts.  Choose larger fonts, a minimum of 28 points if possible.  In situations where you need to make the font much smaller to fit all the information on the slide, try breaking the content up logically into multiple slides instead.  Additionally, keep fonts consistent throughout your entire slide set, and remember that certain typestyles, such as “sans serif” fonts, are much easier on the eyes than others.

3.  Keep It Brief

Many presenters try to cram as much information onto as few slides as possible.  But, slides that are packed with text are difficult to read, and may confuse audience members by highlighting too many ideas or thoughts at once.  As a rule of thumb, try to stick to no more than two or three key points per slide.  Bullets, as opposed to sentences or paragraphs, make it easier to grasp ideas “at a glance”.  And, consider using “builds” to bring in one point at a time.

4. Choose Images Over Text

Wherever possible, try to get your point across using visual aids – photos, clip art, charts, etc. – instead of plain text.  The average person cannot read and listen at the same time, so forcing them to peruse wordy slides as you speak will hinder information retention.  Additionally, graphics are far more memorable and interesting, so use them often to enhance the way you make the key points within your presentation.  For example, photography can add realism, while diagrams can simplify complex or hard-to-understand concepts.

5. Color, Color, and More Color

Effective use of color can really catch the eye of those you are presenting to.  Try using contrasting colors to draw attention to certain ideas, or to focus attention on certain elements of each slide.  And, select colors based on the image you want to convey, or the emotions you want to evoke.  For example, brown promotes feelings of friendliness and warmth, while purple creates the perception of sophistication

6. Proofread Thoroughly

Nothing will minimize the visual impact of your slides more than a misspelled word, misplaced image, or other erroneous error.  Spell check your slides and ask a friend to proof your slides carefully before you present.  Be sure to check your visuals and numbers, as well as your text.

7. X & Y

One thing that professional presentation designers spend a lot of time on is continuity. It may not seem like a big deal but if a title block or image “jumps” noticeably  from one slide to the next it can be distracting for the audience. There are two easy ways to manage this. Number one is don’t move the template items around on your slides. Number two is cut and paste an element from one slide to the next. Most presentation programs will place your item at the same coordinates on the next slide. The third more time consuming way to manage objects using an X & Y coordinate inspector to ensure your slide objects aren’t shifting across slides. This will let you drag or “tap” them (using arrow keys) into the right place.

The end of the year is synonymous with lots of things. Holiday parties, spending time with family, good food, time off… and lists, lists, lists! Whether it be shopping lists for holiday dinners, gift lists for Santa, New Year’s resolutions or the inevitable ‘best of the year’ recaps – lists are everywhere!

At SlideRocket, we are thrilled to be included in a very important end of the year list- the PC World 100: Best Products of 2009. It is an honor to be named, a credit to the work we have done in 2009 and great to be in the company of products such as the iPhone, Google Voice, Amazon’s Kindle and Facebook.

Featured in the top 100, SlideRocket’s “striking and easy-to-use browser-based presentation software” is praised by PC World. Based on our design, functionality, performance, and impact, we are so excited to be one of the cream of the crop, the 100 best of 2009. Here is the post from PC World:

SlideRocket.com (presentation service, basic service free) This striking and easy-to-use browser-based presentation software works with any OS and can be accessed from anywhere at any time. It may not drive a stake into Microsoft PowerPoint, but it’s versatile enough to pose a significant challenge to Redmond.

We couldn’t agree more with PC World’s assessment. This past year, we have been working hard, revolutionizing the approach to presentations in the office, the boardroom and the classroom. We have successfully created the only presentation application that allows you to create stunning presentations, manage them intelligently, share them securely and then measure the results. Bring it on, Redmond!

We aim to make the list again in 2010, as we continue to change how you work. Whether your line of work is in sales, marketing, support, design, events or education, SlideRocket’s complete presentation ecosystem should be in your must-have professional tool set.

Let us know how you think we did in 2009 by visiting our UserVoice site and telling us what you use presentations for. Does SlideRocket meet your needs? Are there any feature sets you are looking forward to in 2010? Share your SlideRocket wish list with us- we will try our best to provide for all of your needs across the entire life cycle of your presentation media, living up to our name as one of the best products of 2009!

SlideRocket Tips Are Go For Launch

It’s no secret that the best presenters are the ones who are most prepared.  A little advance legwork can go a very long way when it comes to delivering a compelling, memorable, high-impact presentation.

Here are the five key things you need to know before you present:

1. Know Your Audience

Want to make sure you presentation packs a punch?  Then, create it from the perspective of your audience.  Why is this topic important to them?  What are they looking to learn or take away from the session?  What points will they find most interesting or relevant?  By taking the time to gather a little insight about the people you’ll be presenting to, you can ensure that your content is as beneficial as possible to everyone who attends.

2. Know Your Material

If you aren’t familiar with the content you are presenting, you may lack confidence during your delivery, or end up reading directly from notes to avoid making mistakes.  This can cause your audience to question your credibility, or to become disengaged.  But, knowing your material thoroughly beforehand will help you speak with conviction, and present yourself as an authority on the topic you are covering.

3.  Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Don’t give into the temptation to try something new, just for the sake of “shaking things up”.  Stick to what your good at, and deliver your presentation in a way that plays up your proven strengths.  For example, if you don’t have a knack for comedic timing, avoid jokes and, instead, go with a more straight-forward delivery.  Of, if you’re particularly effective at soliciting audience participation, chose a format that promotes high levels of interaction.

4. Know Your Space

The forum will have a huge effect on how your presentation should be structured, so be sure to check out the room you’ll be presenting in before you put your slides together.    Will you have space to walk around, or will be stuck behind a podium?  Will the audience be sitting classroom-style, or around a boardroom table?  Is there room for a projector and large screen, or will you have to rely on handouts? It’s also very important to visit the room several hours before your scheduled speech, to make sure all equipment, such as microphones and projectors, are working properly.

5. Know What “Plan B” Is

Disaster can strike at any time before or during your presentation.  You’ll need to know – in advance – how you will handle certain catastrophes.  What happens if your A/V equipment breaks?  What will you do if only three people show up, when you were expecting 40?  How do you handle audience questions that you do not know the answer to?  Anticipating and preparing for situations like these can help keep things on track and running smoothly, no matter what happens.

Want more valuable tips on effective presentation creation and delivery?  Check back here every Tuesday morning for a new presentation tip.