Presentations are conversations

Garr Reynolds blogs about “professional presentation design” and offers some terrific insight into Steve Job’s presentation style, using his recent roll-out of the video iPod. Be sure to watch the video. This is how it’s done, kids. [via Micro Persuasion]

“What has always made Steve Jobs such a great presenter is that he seems relaxed and informal in tone and style (yet gracious), as if he were having a conversation with a group of friends at home in the backyard. … the essence of his masterful style is something many (most?) people can achieve in their own unique way. The secret is to communicate in front of a large group the same way you do everyday when you are talking with your spouse or your best friend down at the local Starbucks. The key is to look at presentations as conversations.”

Frozen Nano: Apple feet of clay

After gushing all over everyone about the superior design of my Apple Nano, the little bastard has locked up tighter than a drum. Frozen solid. Tried all the fixes suggested on the Apple website but to no avail. Even tried to run the “restore to factory pre-sets” app but couldn’t make the PC see the Nano. Hmm, just like any other computer device, it would seem.

Update: When the battery finally ran all of the way down, the Nano powered down. When I plugged it back in the the PC, it apparantly reset itself.

Steve Jobs on podcasting

“One thing Steve Jobs said to me that didn’t make it into my [June 28] story was that he’s getting interest from corporations about creating podcasts to reach customers and others directly  without going through [traditional media], offers Markoff. An example might include something like Adobe wanting a podcast for Photoshop users.

His point: All of this breaks down old traditions  everybody is getting dis-aggregated by new technologies, Markoff says. The lesson for PR practitioners, according to Markoff, is to recognize that things are changing in the media. More people are trying to reach [audiences directly].”

— From a story by NY Times’ John Markoff who recently interviewed Steve Jobs when Apple added podcasts to iTunes

Thinkpads Forever

I bought my first IBM Thinkpad in 1996. That was the year IBM introduced the 560 model, the first “ultraportable.” The little bugger is still working. In December of 2000 I replaced the 560 with an A21p. I told the IBM rep on the phone to give me “the biggest, baddest box you have.” The warranty on the A21p expired in later February and the mother board expired last weekend. A brand new Thinkpad R40 left Hong Kong overnight and is heading my way.

Thought about buying a Mac (for about 30 seconds) and decided to stick with what I know. Thinkpads are a little pricey but looking at the 10-year-old 560 over there on the couch reminds me why I keep coming back.