PowerPoint is only as good as the presenter. If the presenter stinks then PowerPoint is their crutch.

When a presenter puts the content of the entire presentation on the slide is make the presenter useless since we can just read it.

I love PowerPoint, and when used properly it is a great way to keep audience attention and to add to the presentation. It should NOT lead the presentation it should follow the presenter.

I just did a post moments ago about PowerPoint 2010, it has some really nice enhancements that a good presenter should take advantage of, check it out if you have a minute http://bit.ly/bt1UYc

I've hated PowerPoint since the first moment I saw it. It's the technological equivalent of "best practices," "interface," using impact as a verb, and all the other empty business speak practiced by people with a nice suit, a fresh haircut, a professional network, and absolutely nothing resembling an original idea.

It's a slide show on steroids at a discounted price.

I've seen terrific slide shows, and I've suffered through incompetent, overly long, and/or poorly assembled slide shows. (You knew you were in trouble when you asked someone how their vacation went, and they pulled out slide trays marked "Day 1, Part 1," "Day 1, Part 2," etc.)

The problem with PowerPoint is that it allows anybody to show all their inestimable brilliance or stupidity, their talent or lack thereof, without an investment in 35mm cameras, a slide projector, and slide trays, and it doesn't cost someone 25-50 cents each to produce each slide image. Therefore, there's not the self-limiting factor that there was (at least to some extent) to slide shows. Few people had slide projectors or home movie projectors; seemingly everyone has a computer and CD burner or media projector these days.

I am a high school business teacher, and use PowerPoint regularly. I teach my students how to use it effectively, especially stressing just what Byron said. Some of them get it, but too many of them don't. The ones who get it have learned to create some visually appealing, interesting presentations!

Edward Tufte, who lectures and writes on graphic design, has expounded on the problems with PowerPoint (e.g., presentations leading up to the NASA Columbia disaster). Of course, it's all up to the presenter. Your slide is a good example. Check out the following for more on Tufte's thoughts: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/ppt2.html

It's silly to blame the tool. A couple of comments:
1. Sometimes, PowerPoint is not the right tool.
2. It is very difficult to create a compelling, engaging presentation. Most people don"t have the time, inclination, experience or skill.