[LA.pm] Tech. Meeting Nov 8th @ Rent.com

[Ben Tilly]

On 10/29/07, David Fetter <david at fetter.org> wrote:
> On Mon, Oct 29, 2007 at 08:03:26AM -0700, Ben Tilly wrote:
> > On 10/28/07, Quinn Weaver <quinn at fairpath.com> wrote:
[...]
> > Ah.  That presumes 3 things not at present true.
> >
> > 1. I have somewhere to put said slides.
> > 2. I have slides to put.
> > 3. I have the ability to give the presentation.
> >
> > Having never given one of these before, I have no computer to give
> > the presentation with (I assume Rent can provide one), no
> > slide-preparing software (I'm hoping someone will suggest one),
>
> OpenOffice has decent presentation software, and if you have a Mac
> available, Keynote is fantastic, even though it's neither Free nor
> free.  Anybody got thumbs up/down on koffice's offering?

I'm not interested in spending $79 on iWork for one presentation.  And
yes, I know that I could use the 30 day free trial, but I still don't
want to do it.  It just feels dishonest.

OpenOffice is possible.  But I just tried it.  I tried to create a
simple page and add a table.  (A complex 4x4 table will be key to my
presentation.)  After 10 minutes of messing around, I realize that it
will drive me crazy.  I'm sure that if I had to give a lot of
presentations I'd learn the software and find it very useful.  But for
one time, it would literally be easier to produce it myself in HTML.

I think I'd prefer something I can develop in a text format.

> > and no internet home appropriate for putting the presentation on
> > (I'm hoping someone will volunteer one, I know multiple people on
> > this list with space).
>
> Is there space on http://losangeles.pm.org ?

Not for me to say, though I'd happily use it if offered.

> > I am, in short, singularly ill-prepared and hopeful of assistance.
> > :-)
>
> "Ill-prepared" is what happens when you show up for the talk without
> having prepared.  What you're doing now is called "preparing well." :)

Let me amend that.  I am *currently* unprepared.  I am attempting to
change this state of affairs. :-)

> > Assuming all of those change, I'm hoping to prepare slides on my
> > wife's computer, put them up at the donated home, and give a
> > presentation on the borrowed computer off of that location.  And
> > I'll gladly let everyone know where the presentation is afterwards.
> >
> > Cheers, Ben
>
> I don't think I'll be able to get down from Oakland for this one.
> Break a leg, as they say in show biz. :)

Thanks.  I hope I won't.

Cheers,
Ben