Why I don't use Prezi

I have made a lot of presentation since my first day in university and have never chosen a different way from the traditional slides. About two or three years ago, there was this presentation tool called Prezi which propose a whole different approach to presentation called "Zooming User Interface" (ZUI). While it does looks really cool, and many is changing to use Prezi, I find myself struggle to make Prezi my default presentation tool.

1. K.I.S.S (Keep it simple, stupid)

This principle, in general, states that things "work best if they are kept simple rather than complex". It has been one of my life's principle and it has never got me wrong. When you start using Prezi, you need to learn from the ground up as it does not look like what traditional presentation slides look like. 

As its navigation is non-linear, which use zoom/pan function to switch views, you have to organise your idea precisely throughout. You also needs to organise your "paths", which defines the view of your "Prezi map". This, to me, is making things more complex than the traditional way of making slides. Why not making it simple?

2. Time consuming

Again, if you really want to make a good Prezi presentation, time investment is a must. You have to form an idea, then form a skeleton of your Prezi map, then start adding texts and pictures and define the paths and more and more. The approach might be different but it's not like making traditional slides with only click "add new slide", type some word, add some picture and done.

If you are in a rush, especially in business world where an hour would make a huge difference, you'd better make some really great content rather than a fancy, fabulous but meaningless presentation.

3. It might not be suitable for formal presentation.

This is totally subjective but I have never seen anyone use Prezi for formal presentation. No one can really define what really is a formal presentation but I'd say for the slides, there should not be too many animation. Prezi, unfortunately, pan and zoom all the time. I won't use animation for any formal presentation slide so Prezi is not an option.

4. It's the speaker who matter, not slides/presentation tools.

This is the most basic thing. Slides or presentation tools are called aids. That means it's there to help you, not to speak for yourself. People should be drawn to you - the one who speaks, not to the presentation aids. If they do, you are doomed. A bad speaker you are. So again, KISS and why not make a simple slide with words and pictures and walk your audience through it by your art of presenting? 

5. Prezi does not make you a smarter person.

In fact, in some cases, it makes your presentation worse and it makes you a worse person. I hear people say, sometimes, that those who stick to traditional slides are boring and not creative/innovative. Some even give a minus to whoever come up with a traditional slides. The fact is, in my opinion, they are missing the point. 

The tools are secondary. The speakers are to be focused. Bear that in mind. Otherwise, it's a video-slide, a Prezi map that does not speak, not a presentation. That's why, I would choose the aid that would save me more time, create less struggle for me and help me be the primary subject in my talk.