The best laser pointer for presentations isn’t even a laser pointer anymore but is actually a digital pointer. Anyone that tells you different either hasn’t done any presentations in the last 2 years or is just trying to take your money.
In my opinion I would not recommend a laser pointer to anyone anymore unless you intend on doing all of your presentations in a specific venue that you know still uses a standard projector and screen. The main reason for this is that in recent years I have noticed that more and more venues are using LED screens for presenting and despite what people might tell you – Laser pointers DO NOT work on LED screens.
The short answer for this is because LED screens don’t reflect laser beams the way projection screens do, making it almost impossible for the audience to follow your pointer. If you want to know more about this I did a more detailed post explaining why laser pointers don’t work on LED screens. A digital pointer, solves this issue by simulating a laser on-screen without relying on light reflection, with digital pointers you can see the pointer on all screen types, making them a must-have for any presenter that will be working with modern display technology.
My favourite Digital Pointer is the Norwii N95s Pro and you can buy it on Amazon by clicking the link below or keep reading for more information on why Digital Pointers should be in every presenters tool kit.
Why Do You Need A Pointer for Presentations
I know that some people don’t use pointers when presenting but I find they can be a great tool for a few reasons.
- Using a pointer during your presentation can help you guide your audience’s attention to specific points, this ensures they follow along with your key points.
- Using one of the new Digital pointers allows you to highlight specific parts of a slide and this can be particularly useful when presenting data-heavy visuals or intricate diagrams.
- A pointer also helps maintain the flow of your presentation, keeping your audience engaged and focused on what matters most, if you think you are losing the audience at any time a pointer is one of the many tools you can use to get their attention back.
What Else Can Pointers Be Used For?
In addition to pointing, most good wireless presenters offer features like slide control, volume adjustment, screen highlighting and even a white slide function. Slide control lets you move between slides without returning to your computer, while volume control helps manage multimedia elements. Screen highlighting tools, such as digital pointers or magnifiers, enable you to emphasize key content or zoom in on specific details and a white screen option is a great tool to get an audiences attention if they are starting to focus too much on your slides and not on you. These features allow you to focus on presenting rather than worrying about changing slides or other technical issues. If you are looking for more ways to ensure you can avoid issues during your presentations I have compiled a presentation checklist to help with this.
Make Sure You Have The Right Pointer
All pointers are definitely not created equal so it is important that you get the right one for your needs. Before investing in a new pointer, consider the following points:
- Will you be using a projector or an LED screen to present – laser or digital pointer
- How far will you be stood from your laptop – you need to make sure the pointer range is suitable
- How far will you be standing from the screen – some laser pointers are quite week and won’t be visible more than 10 meters away
- Do you need slide control
- Compatibility with your operating system and software is crucial
- What is your presentation style – If you are a nervous presenter make sure you get a pointer with big, easy to identify buttons so you don’t have to keep looking at the pointer or even worse select the wrong button.
Best All Round Pointer For Presentations
If you will be presenting in lots of different environments and with different systems then you can either prepare for all eventualities by having multiple tools or you can select one of the few pointers available that will cover almost any situation.
In my opinion the Norwii N95 Pro is the best all-around pointer for presentation situation, this is mainly due to its flexibility, big range of functions and it’s also really easy to use.
- It has both a Laser pointer and Digital pointer built in which instantly covers old and new systems. Whether presenting with a projector, LED screen or interactive white board the Norwii N95 Pro has an option that will work
- Simple buttons that are really clearly marked and well separated to prevent accidentally pressing backwards when you want to move forward a slide
- A long control range of 50 meters so should work in almost any venue, no matter how big the stage is
- Air mouse functionality which allows you to control the on screen mouse without having to be on a desk
- Customizable buttons that allow you to preset specific functions for each button
- Built in timer alert that vibrates to alert you when you reach a preset time limit
Conclusion
Investing in the Norwii N95s Pro digital pointer over an old-style laser pointer seems like a no brainer, it is actually not much dearer than many standard laser pointers and unlike traditional laser pointers that don’t work on LED screens, the N95s Pro offers both digital and physical lasers, which means it will work on all displays. Its also has a range of advanced features that will make presenting much easier, leaving you feel much more in control and making you wonder why you didn’t get one before. I have purchased 4 traditional laser pointers over the years and I wish I had just saved my money and bought the Norwii N95s Pro when I first saw it.
If you want to know more detailed information about exactly what the Norwii N95s Pro can do I will be doing a full product review of it shortly and will add the link here. In the meantime you can click the Amazon link below to have a look and see if it is right for you. There are plenty of other pointers available but this is the one that I feel is the best all round pointer available without spending a fortune.
I hope you found this post useful and please feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions and I will try to answer any that I can
Pete