Don’t be a fool for the tool

When asked for product recommendations, the prudent first response is “why?” or “what for?”. Which was my reply last weekend to someone who asked about tablet PCs.

Tablet PCs are a laptop with a swivelling touch screen. They are a kind of electronic clip board you can write on and use as a computer.

For the right people, tablet PCs are a great idea. However most are gathering dust in stationary closets because their owners found a tablet PC wasn’t the right tool for their needs.

In this case, the woman wanted to use the computer to draw diagrams during her on-stage presentations.

This idea filled me with horror, as butcher’s paper is the best tool for this job. Projecting your doodles and scrawls electronically adds a layer of complexity I’d rather not contemplate (as was subsequently illustrated by the venue’s difficulties with microphones).

Sometimes you can use tools that are too elaborate and too complex, which end up getting in the way of the job you want to do.

PowerPoint displays are a good example. Many great presentations are ruined by the speaker’s urge to cram all their knowledge on to slides that are then read out, bullet point by dreary bullet point.

Interestingly, at the National Speakers Convention over the weekend, I noticed most professional speakers have given up the use of PowerPoint or Keynote altogether.

Most are going back to using butcher’s paper and relying on simply their knowledge and passion for their topics.

That’s not to say PowerPoint is completely dead. One speaker who used the medium well was Glen Capelli, but his use of Apple Keynote was a far cry from the “heading-bullet point- bullet point-bullet point-corporate logo-next heading” type presentation we’ve all suffered through.

Which showed the right tools used well can have stunning results.

So don’t just grab the flashiest toy in the shop – choose wisely and get what works best for you.

If you are giving a presentation, the best tool is usually yourself. If you know your stuff and you believe what you’re saying, then you don’t need a computer at all.

If you’d like to hear Paul discuss the Internet, business and the meaning of life, he’ll be speaking for free at two small business bookclub events in Sydney over the next two weeks. Both events have limited seating so booking is essential.    On Thursday, April 2, he’ll be at Glebe Library from 6pm and bookings can be made through the City of Sydney website.    The following week is at Concord Library from 6pm on Wednesday April 8 and the City of Canada Bay website has the booking details.

Paul Wallbank has spent 15 years helping businesses with their technology issues. Over that time he also grew PC Rescue into a national IT company and set up the IT Queries website. Today Paul assists business facing the challenges of today’s market and believes entrepreneurs and new thinking is what will fix the global economy.

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