Not sure whether to use Keynote or Powerpoint to create your next presentation? Do you feel like you’re stuck in the “Mac vs. PC” ad? I completely understand.  As an Apple user, I have the benefit of utilizing both presentation tools, and find I am often moving between them interchangeably.  The benefits of having both, is that they do indeed have separate strengths and in turn weaknesses.  When making my choice regarding which program to use, I look at three key factors (and they aren’t which one is going to make me look coolest!) I have outlined them here, so you can use them to decide which tool makes sense for you.

1. Pre-Designed Template or Free Hand

First question to ask yourself is, “How much do you want to rely on a pre-designed template and how much do you want to be able to manipulate the design?”  Both Keynote and Powerpoint provide great pre-designed templates, and both allow manipulation of the template fonts, colors and layout.  However, if you think you are going to be doing a lot of customization to your presentation template, Powerpoint should be your choice.  The capabilities Powerpoint allows you for template manipulation are greater than those Keynote offers.  Although, I find both programs have some nice pre-designed templates, when I am planning to use a straight pre-designed template and only make minor color and font changes, I usually end up selecting Keynote.  The templates are sharper and have a more modern edge to them.  The take home message: Using Powerpoint is like sewing your own clothes, the possibilities are endless.  Using Keynote is like shopping at the Gap, you’re always going to look nice and be in style, but you’re also going to look like color copies of everyone else.

If relying on a pre-designed template then use Keynote.  The templates are sharper and more modern.

If you are going to be doing more then manipulating font colors and background images, then use Powerpoint.  The template editing tools are more robust.

2. Integration with Desktop Media Applications

Second question to ask yourself is, “Do you want to be able to integrate your content and your final presentation with software you are already using on your desktop?”  For example, do you want to include photos from iphoto or imbed video podcasts?  If you are looking to integrate content into your presentation and in turn be able to integrate your finished presentation into other document, no one does it better the Apple.  The ability to seamlessly manipulate content in and out of iwork applications far outshines similar attempts by Microsoft's Office.  No matter how smart the PC guy might be, at the end of the day, Mac is still cooler, and all his gadgets work together!

If you want to integrate your other desktop tools seamlessly together, choose Keynote.  Apple out does Microsoft in the application integration department.

3. Portability

Third question to ask yourself is, “Do you have to share this presentation with people who do not have either Keynote or Powerpoint?”  If you think you will be sharing your presentation cross platform, again you have to choose Apple’s Keynote. (Greedy PC, he doesn’t want to share!) Apple has integrated a simple export function that allows you to save your Keynote presentation as a Powerpoint.  Powerpoint, does not offer the same flexibility.  Both, however allow you to easily create PDF versions of your presentation, which can easily be viewed by either platform.  The difference is in the ability to edit.  You cannot easily edit a PDF file.

If you need to have your presentation easily viewable and editable by a group of people, who are using both Keynote and Powerpoint, then you need to use Keynote.  Keynote allows you to save your file as a Powerpoint.

Four Quick Things to Help You Decide Whether to Use Keynote or Powerpoint

1. If relying on a pre-designed template then use Keynote.  The templates are sharper and more modern.

2. If you are going to be doing more then manipulating font colors and background images, then use Powerpoint.  The template editing tools are more robust.

3. If you want to integrate your other desktop tools seamlessly together, choose Keynote.  Apple out does Microsoft in the application integration department.

4. If you need to have your presentation easily viewable and editable by a group of people, who are using both Keynote and Powerpoint, then you need to use Keynote.  Keynote allows you to save your file as a Powerpoint.