Creating presentations

Microsoft PowerPoint features all the editing tools you would expect of an Office product, as well as an impressive selection of presentation-specific options, such as transitions and animations. You can also add and edit a variety of other non-text elements, such as images, video, audio, hypertext and graphs. Where possible, Microsoft PowerPoint also supports drag and drop, making adding information and interesting elements to your presentation especially easy.

From a preparation point of view, Microsoft PowerPoint also excels. Under the file tab you'll find a document summary, including all the information - and tools to modify - non-presentation elements, such as security, compression and sharing and co-authoring options. The program includes functions for rehearsing your presentations to the minutest detail, while you can also record it to watch as a video. SharePoint is supported, and you can access a web version of your presentation via Windows Live.

Interface changes

Biggest isn't always best, but in this case, kudos has to go to Microsoft for developing a tool that is both hugely comprehensive and very user-friendly. Microsoft PowerPoint features the ubiquitous 2010 ribbon interface, which makes it very easy to navigate and use. The interface is totally customizable, and as you click on the different elements of your presentation the appropriate set of editing tools appear.

More features than you can shake a stick at

PowerPoint has always excelled at giving users every option and feature imaginable. This version improves upon previous versions by making more advanced features easily accessible and easy to understand. There's still a bit of a learning curve since the interface changes are dramatic, but the payoff is worth it.

Still king

All in all, Microsoft PowerPoint is an impressive product. User-friendly enough for everyone, but with the advanced features needed to produce really professional presentations, it's hard to think of a situation where Microsoft PowerPoint would not be a great option for users.

Microsoft PowerPoint is a great example of an excellent piece of software. Your presentations will never be the same again!

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IBM SPSS Statistics is the ultimate tool for managing your statistics data and research.

This super-app affords you complete control over your data. It allows you to make complex graphs and illustrations from statistics and is firmly aimed at professionals who want to solve business and research problems. To facilitate this, SPSS features a wide range of analytical functions that take the pain out of collating data.

SPSS offers detailed analysis options to look deeper into your data and spot trends that you might not have noticed. You can test out hundreds of different variables on your data to see how figures or performance would change under different circumstances, while the app contains multiple advanced features that will allow you get the max from your data.

An array of features

Among these features are excellent sharing options, automated models, the ability to operate server versions of IBM SPSS Statistics Base and modules on IBM mainframe servers, a syntax editor, integration with Microsoft Office, and much, much more. In order to get a better idea of the functions and features, take a look here.

Obviously, such power comes at a price. The SPSS download is pretty large, and once you do have the program installed, it’s a pretty steep learning curve until you find your feet. You could argue that SPSS is actually a glorified version of Excel, but with far more options and power behind it, it’s an impressive beast. As a result, domestic users may be intimidated and would be better off getting started on a simpler data management app.

If you’re serious about statistics, then SPSS is as good as it gets.

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SPAMfighter Exchange Module is designed to work with Exchange Server 2000, 2003 and 2007. SPAMfighter Exchange Module, like most products from the SPAMfighter developers, is incredibly easy to use and administer whether you're an advanced network administrator or just a home user sick of being deluged by spam in Outlook.

SPAMfighter Exchange Module also works with Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) so it's also suitable for small businesses suffering from spam outbreaks. The program is remarkably powerful as it utilizes over 5 million SPAMfighter servers from 222 countries which are constantly on the alert for spam attacks. If enough SPAMfighters report the same spam mail, it is instantly added to the SPAMfighter Exchange Module database and you can be sure it won't get through. Whatsmore, it doesn't require client side installation so can be used and administered by one network specialist from one location.

SPAMfighter Exchange Module is a very powerful solution for those using Outlook that have been plagues by spam for too long.

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LiveZilla aims to help you achieve this by chatting with your website visitors in real time and therefore allowing you to provide live assistance when help is needed. The advantage is that instead of having to e-mail you -which customers frequently can't be bothered to do - they can instantly ask you and have a response within seconds.

To get started is relatively simple - you just need to upload the LiveZilla client configuration to the server of your webpage via LiveZilla Server Admin. Everything is taken care of via an easy-to-follow setup wizard so there are no technical obstacles to be worried about. Once done, you can communicate via instant messaging with users without installing anything else. They can even use webcams and send files to communicate with you.

The program also tracks stats on visitors arriving at your site, their country of origin and page visits although you'll probably have all of this taken care of by a decent stat-counter service anyway. For your security and convenience, you can also save common questions asked and send answers in one click including the sending of sketches and complex information.

If you have regular customer enquiries and want to be closer to your clients, then LiveZilla is an excellent business solution.

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The latest MindMap includes a handful of interesting improvements that make the program generally more accessible, something novice users will be grateful for. The first great change we notice is a brand new interface with a fresher, more attractive design. What's more, MindMap includes a bunch of templates and a very complete tutorial to get you started in no time. You can tell the developers have made a real effort to make the program easier to use.

However, I still found it difficult to work on formatting aspects. Although you can use map themes to change the map aspect with just one click, they're generally quite unattractive. Then, if you want to customize your map you have to navigate through each element's context menu. Also, drag-and-drop is restricted to clipart, and can no longer be used to add new topics to the map.

On the upside, MindMap features some nice improvements. For example, now it enables to have the Map and Outline views simultaneously on screen. It includes a large variety of symbols and clipart to use in your charts as well. The Brainstorming tool has also improved a lot, enabling you to jot down ideas directly on your map and move them around without worrying about format, size or color. And once your map is done, you can export it directly to PDF, PPS, DOC or HTML.

Download ConceptDraw Mindmap Professional 5.0.5.0 in Softonic