POWERPOINT VS KEYNOTE
Some may argue that PowerPoint reigns supreme, while Keynote offers its own unique set of advantages that cannot be ignored.
PowerPoint vs. Keynote
It's a war out there, a war that's been happening for years now, both sides digging deep and rallying their armies, all for one reason: presentation software. In one corner, we have the stalwart PowerPoint, the workhorse that's been around since 1987, and in the other corner, the sleek semi-newcomer, Apple Keynote.
Now, I know what you're thinking, "Who cares? They're just presentation tools, right?" Wrong. The design, the versatility, the ease of use, they all factor in.
And that's why we're here today, to talk about the differences between Keynote and PowerPoint when it comes to presentation design. As a professional presentation designer, I Keynote has an intuitive working interface. Comparatively, PowerPoint offers a good solid workspace but there are some kludgy features that seem cumbersome when trying to streamline a workflow. For the inexperienced user, PowerPoint can look a little intimidating with all the options located in the top ribbons.
Which is better: Keynote or PowerPoint? That's the million-dollar question. Some argue that Keynote is more intuitive, more user-friendly and has better animation capabilities.
Others disagree, pointing out that PowerPoint has more features, more customization options. Who's right? Who's wrong? Frankly, it’s a matter of personal preference. And, what’s available to you. PC users swear by PowerPoint and Mac users love Keynote. The good thing is both platforms are capable of making great presentations.
1. Keynote vs. PowerPoint Features: A Brief Overview
Have you ever searched for the best presentation tool? Presentations are vital in the professional world and Keynote and PowerPoint are both popular choices.
When to use PowerPoint over Keynote? Number one reason is if it’s installed on your computer. PC users use PowerPoint and Mac users generally use Keynote. PowerPoint has been and is the industry standard for presentation software. There are many Mac users who use PowerPoint on their Apple machines. However, Keynote is installed for free on a Mac and Mac users have to pay to have PowerPoint installed on their computers. Keynote is regularly updated for free whereas PowerPoint is not. You have to pay (subscribe) to keep your PowerPoint version updated.
POWERPOINT
PowerPoint has an impressive features list. It has unlimited access to icons, images, vector art, illustrations, and 3D graphics. The “Design Ideas” option, found in the Design tab, offers design suggestions in the right panel. If it’s late at night and you have a presentation due the next morning, this design feature can really help move things along. (As a design professional, I have this turned off 100% of the time.) For non-professionals, Design Ideas will provide several different layout options based on a single shape or text box on the slide.
Animations in PowerPoint are robust. PowerPoint has three different types of animation. There are three sections that enable animations. The first being Entrance Animations, second, Emphasis Animations and third, Exit Animations. Additionally, “Transitions” can enhance your presentation. Transitions are unique ways to move from one slide to another to create visual interest. As the name suggests, the entrance animations makes a shape, text or any other element appear on the slide. Similarly, the Exit Animations, you guessed it, make objects disappear from a slide. The Emphasis animations can highlight and direct the audience attention to a certain graphic, text, or object on the slide. Like the Adobe software programs, you can create custom shapes with the Merge Shapes feature. And you can edit shapes with the Edit Shapes option and moving anchor points on shapes. It’s not as sophisticated as the Adobe programs but you can create simple custom graphics. Another PowerPoint feature is “Smart-Art,” found under the Insert tab. It creates infographics to illustrate a process, heirarchy or a cycle, to name a few of the graphic options.
I must mention what I feel is a major flaw in the PowerPoint workflow: templates! The process of building templates in Powerpoint can be quite tedious and frustrating if you don’t know what you are doing. Unless handled properly, the templates are subject to ‘breaking’ easily and consequently not working properly. The Microsoft PowerPoint team has not updated or improved the overall template building process in a very long time.
KEYNOTE
Feature rich Keynote offers many unique options. For example, there is an iPad version where you can use your Apple pencil to create hand-drawn designs. Keynote is very compatible with PowerPoint files both importing and exporting. The latest version of Keynote has something called Dynamic Backgrounds that move continuously as you transition from slide to slide. This background option is really a game-changer for creating unique, polished presentations. Just like the layers panel in Adobe, Keynote has something called the Object List, found in the View tab. It’s indispensable for organizing (and animating) complex layouts. Another great feature is Instant Alpha. OK, you’ve found the perfect image for your slide – only one problem: the background. With Instant Alpha, you can remove the background right in Keynote. It removes the color from pixels in an image. No need to take the photo into Photoshop first to remove a background.
My experience has proven that the animations in Keynote are a little more smooth and polished – more cinematic. Similar to PowerPoint, Keynote animations have the entrance and exit animations except it’s called “build in and out.” And, the effect that emphasizes an element is called “Action.”
One of the major advantages of Keynote is you can collaborate with other users in real-time via Apple iCloud. However in order to collaborate live in PowerPoint you must use OneDrive which can be a bit of a nightmare to navigate for the novice user. Keynote Templates: Building a template in Keynote has a learning curve, but is much more streamlined and less convoluted than the process of building PowerPoint Templates.
PowerPoint has been popular for years due to its widespread availability. However, Keynote boasts a sleek design and intuitive functionality.
In Summary
In the ever-evolving world of presentations, there is a constant debate between Keynote and PowerPoint. And while some may argue that PowerPoint reigns supreme, Keynote offers its own unique set of advantages that cannot be ignored. From its stunning visual effects to its easy-to-use interface. Both Keynote and PowerPoint are excellent choices for creating impactful presentations. If you're looking to take your presentations to the next level, look no further than hiring a professional presentation designer, like me. A well-crafted presentation can grab the audience's attention, inspire them to act, or support your cause. Don't compromise on quality; ensure your next presentation is a showstopper.