Hi,I have Office 2000 installed in my home PC. As you know, Excel 2000/Powerpoint 2000 doesn't create the most visually appealing graphs/presentations respectively (unlike the versions I used to have when I was working in consulting). Nowadays, I am going to interviews where I am being asked to create presentations as part of the assessment process.Have any of you used Excel 2007/Powerpoint 2007? Does it allow you to create much more visually appealing presentations....or would it be a waste of money to buy it?Thanks,Grove

Some of the most impressive presentations I have seen have using nothing more than a flipchart. Focus on the content and message, and keep the slides simple.The most beautiful slides in the world, poorly presented, won't help you at all. By contrast, a good presentation without visual aids (or with minimal visual aids) will impress.

most of the stuff is the same, but the 07 version does have new templates, looks more appealing, etc...might be worth getting the trial version downloaded from ms website and seeing for yourself.

Speaking of which, has anybody got any links to useful templates and clipart and stuff like that?Thanks!

For the love of god, don't use clipart!

You can download trial versions of Office 2007 programs from the Microsoft website. They work as the full version for 60 or 90 days, in which time you can play with the charts and other features to work out whether they're worthwhile.That said, as the previous poster mentioned, you can make a effective and compelling presentation with just a flipchart or without any visual aids.The additional features in Office 2007 are generally enhancements for ease of use and refinements of the tools for handling complex documents. For assessment presentations, you're not going to be dealing with large datasets or taking advantage of those features.Rather than spending time to learn the new Office 2007 interface, you'll be better off to spend the time rehearsing your presentation and fitting it to the time allowed.

Thanks very much for all the advice guys...I appreciate it!Grove

Check out Gene Zalenzy - our charting guru at MckinseySometimes of the best charts, I drawn have come from his adviceZB

Stop pretending to have a job ZB, you're pathetic.

www.piratebay.org

Actual name is Gene Zelazny. look up a book called "say it with charts"

all u need to do is practice and you'll be as good as obama and steve jobs.

I always like the KISS approach - even at sr executive level. I agree with anon, it is about the content and the message. And above all don't use disturbing fly-ins, clip-arts and other crapp, it distracts the interviewers from the real message.But if you really want to impress with graphics, then Minitab is the answer.