Here are some tips and tricks we have compiled that can help you to ensure that your meeting is a success. Feel free to bookmark this page and revisit it, as we will be adding to it regularly.
Hardware
According to Microsoft, the recommended configuration for a Windows Vista system (all versions above Home Basic) is:
- 1-gigahertz (GHz) 32-bit (x86) processor or 1-GHz 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1GB RAM
- 128MB of memory on the Video Card
These specifications can be found here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919183. These are MINIMUM requirements for the Operating System ONLY, and they do not take into consideration other programs you run along with Windows Vista. To run GetFeedback successfully in your meetings, we recommend the following:
- Windows XP:
- Dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, all current Service Packs & updates, PowerPoint 2003, or 2007 with all current Service Packs
- Windows Vista or 7:
- Core 2 Duo processor, 3GB RAM, all current Service Packs & updates, PowerPoint 2003 or 2007 with all current Service Packs
Do's & Don'ts
- Don't run your presentation from a USB memory stick. These are great for moving a presentation from machine to machine, but a presentation should always be run from a copy residing on the hard drive of your computer.
- Do take some extra time to run through the presentation and make sure you're comfortable with operating the software.
- Do try to use the same computer for presenting that you used to create the slideshow. In situations where this is not possible, verify that the computer is running the same version of PowerPoint or that your presentation has been properly converted to work with the version on the presentation computer.
- Do shut down or close any unnecessary applications that are running before you start the presentation. This might also include those residing in the notification area, which might consume memory and processor power or generate pop up messages in the middle of the presentation.
- Don't forget to turn off your screensaver prior to beginning the presentation.
- Disable the AutoSave function in PowerPoint for the duration of the presentation. AutoSave can significantly slow down the slideshow and audience polling.
- In many cases, less is more. Keeping the wording and other elements of an interactive polling slide to a minimum will keep your audience focused on your question and your presentation running smoothly.
- Do plug your Meridia base into your computer prior to launching PowerPoint. After launching PowerPoint, verify that the base is being recognized by looking under the "Base Settings" menu.
- Do make sure you Save your file directly after finishing presentation and if possible during breaks. The golden rule applies: Save Early, Save Often! Even between presentations, presenters, breaks and other interruptions. Remember, GetFeedback stores the date inside the PPT (or PPTx) file, therefore, what is not saved in PowerPoint, is NOT saved in Get Feedback!
- Avoid PowerPoint presentations that have more than one Slide Master layout. Get Feedback uses a particular slide layout from the Master 'deck' for its ARS slides and multiple Slide Masters cause it to pick the wrong one.
- A few wireless 'clickers' (presentation remotes) cause COM port interference with our receiver. Please inquire about the particular brands and models that we don't recommend using.
- Using hyperlinks in your presentation is OK, but remember that mouse clicks and keyboard commands are translated by Get Feedback (on ARS slides) as polling-related commands. For example, mouse click either closes polling, or starts a countdown. Another mouse click moves the slideshow forward. On these slides, hyperlinks will not work as expected.
