Keyspan's Presentation Remote Pro sports audio controls

Hey, mundane PowerPoint presenters need to interact with their tunes from afar too, right? Apparently, Keyspan sure thinks so, as its Presentation Remote Pro not only provides a 100-foot range to flip through slides, but it also plays nice with Apple's Keynote software, sports audio controls, and packs an obligatory laser pointer for movie theater antics. Moreover, it's entirely plug 'n play capable with both Windows and OS X-based machines, and doubles as a mouse with integrated cursor control, scrolling, and two-button clicking capabilities, too. Of course, $79 may seem a bit high for a wireless substitute for your right index finger, but just put it on the corporate card and fuhgetaboutit. Check out another angle after the break.

[Ignacio @ Jul 17th 2007 8:22PM]

F5?

[KeyspanDude @ Jul 17th 2007 11:46PM]

Hi Ignacio!

F5 is used to start a slideshow in PowerPoint and other presentation software (ie OpenOffice).

[Ignacio @ Jul 18th 2007 12:30AM]

I wasn't questioning the functionality, just the choice of label :) Why not an icon? F5 is "volume up" on my laptop (actually, even if I set it up so that it actually functions as an F5, PowerPoint Mac version doesn't use F5 to start a slideshow).

[KeyspanDude @ Jul 18th 2007 4:02AM]

Ignacio...

We went with F5 for historical reasons. You're right about other icons on Fkeys. This is very common on laptops but icons change from machine to machine. On my MacBookPro, F5 shows volume up and F5. On my Vista laptop, I believe it's F5 and external monitor icon.

It's not readily obvious why you have F5 on the remote by just looking at the picture if you don't know all the shortcuts in PowerPoint for Windows. We explain the use of F5 (and the other buttons on the remote) in the printed quickstart sheet that comes with the unit.

Regarding F5 on a Mac PowerPoint (or Keynote), you're right. F5 isn't used in either. However, there are ways, and more than one, to enable the F5 key on the remote start a slideshow in PowerPoint or Keynote. I'm actually in the process of writing a FAQ about this topic and it should be posted on our website soon.

Hope this helps!