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Users accustomed to PowerPoint?s robust array of clip art, pre-populated themes, and pre-set transitions will be disappointed with Keynote?s small offering of pre-fabricated elements. However, they won?t be able to find fault with the visual quality of the elements that Keynote does include; any of the tasteful Keynote themes, detachable chart elements, or cinematic slide transitions would easily stand out against their PowerPoint counterparts.

Keynote?s interface is fairly similar to PowerPoint, although there are some differences. As with PowerPoint you can setup and see the progress of your slide show in a vertical panel on the left. Most of the formatting controls are in a control box called the "inspector"--whether building a chart, making a graphic twirl, or mandating the transition between two slides, you are mostly using the inspectors? controls rather than dropdown menus or key commands to get things done. In addition to being able to animate imported graphics, audio and movie files can be played within a slide, though these multimedia effects will not run across multiple slides.

What will have to wait for the next version are comprehensive chart creation and exporting capabilities. Currently Keynote provides nine beautiful chart styles to choose from, but getting data into these pre-populated formats can be tedious. Users may find it easier to construct their more complicated charts outside the program, and import them as pre-made images into the slideshow. And, though you can export Keynote presentations to QuickTime and to PowerPoint, there is no Keynote-to-HTML conversion as yet. --Elizabeth Aoki

Under the Keynote Hood

You can choose transition, style, direction and speed when you use KeynoteOs Inspector. Creating object builds adds visual interest to your slide presentation. You can animate the elements on a single slide or in a group of slides.

One click and you alter the opacity of a graphic using the Slide Inspector. Click twice and you can set the playback parameters for a QuickTime movie. The Build window in the Inspector allows you to preview, add, and manipulate transitions within and between slides.

AppleOs Keynote allows you to include sound for your presentation. AppleOs KeynoteOs sound formats you can use are MOV, Flash, MP3 and AIFF. Also, you can add files from iTunesO music library to your Keynote slide presentation. In addition, you can add a Quicktime movie to your slides.

Pro Reaction

Keynote has crisp, fresh graphics. KeynoteOs ODrag and DropO and exporting to AppleOs Quicklime both work well. You can import Microsoft PowerPoint or AppleWorksO presentations and create a custom theme base on those slides.

You can store your images in KeynoteOs Image Library. KeynoteOs Cube and Mosaic Large transitions are outstanding for updating your MicrosoftOs PowerPoint. You receive a KeynoteOs User Guide manual. No missing manual here.

Con Reaction

Keynote lacks prebuilt presentations. Also, Keynote has very little clip art to work with in presentations. Also, you have limited presentation themes to choose from in Keynote.

Keynote Cube and Mosaic Large and small transitions do not render well when exporting in MicrosoftOs PowerPoint or AcrobatOs PDF formats. Missing from KeynoteOs User Guide is an index.

Final Notes