I have to lecture in a few weeks time to a group of students and I want to do so through using a slideshow. Powerpoint is just not creative and visually appealing enough to make the sort of impact and impression I want to make. Any suggestions on which software I can use to make an awesome presentation with animations, sounds, ability to store the show on a CD and for the presentation to run on a computer that doesnt have that software? Oh and the software must be free or there has to be a functioning demo. I dont want to spend money on software that I am only going to use once or twice.

Alternatively, I could still use powerpoint but then use an animation design template. I havent found much of those, good quality ones at least, on the internet. And I dont have the pro skills to make one that looks professional.

Help!

Have a look at Macromedia Studio - its said to be quite good. Never used it myself before though...

Macromedia flash! (probably included in studio). You can save your presentation as movie files, so almost any computer should be able to play.

Thanks guys.. will go have a look

Hmm.. Powerpoint and Pinnacle are my fav pieces of software

after going through lots of software...i decided to rather create my own animation template on ppt.. so problem sorted, but thanks for all the suggestions

It is possible to convert your Powerpoint presentation to Flash, and then add more nifty Flash animations from there.

Don't be too heavy on animation though! Too much eyecandy is never good.