These days, Microsoft is all about improving your workflow by providing you with helpful productivity-focused software and accessories, and the company’s new Presenter+ remote exemplifies this idea very much so. I am a huge fan of devices that are created with a particular purpose in mind, and while the Presenter+ is not the first product of its sort, it is a beautiful piece of technology that is simple to install and operate.
Since a little over two weeks ago, I have been utilizing the Presenter+ to improve the quality of meetings with the Teams and to give presentations. This is what I thought of it!
Microsoft Presenter plus design
The Presenter+ has a simple yet sophisticated appearance, making it an attractive accessory for your workstation while being unobtrusive in your hand. It has a superior smooth plastic casing, which contributes to its tiny size, low weight, and pleasant holding experience. The buttons have an excellent click to them, can be felt with your fingers, and are easy to press.
The buttons themselves are comprised of a large circular mute button located at the top, two smaller left and right navigation buttons located directly below it, a pill-shaped “presenting laser” button located directly below those buttons, and a large circular Teams button located directly below that. A power switch and a button to pair the device with Bluetooth may be found on the rear.
When you remove the remote from its charging dock, the back of the device has a surface that has a little textured pattern on it. This pattern makes the remote slightly easier to handle and lowers the likelihood that it will slide around on your desk. As you turn the gadget over, you’ll notice a miniature version of the Microsoft logo just below the depression on the back that allows you to rest your finger there while you hold it.
A USB-C port can be found on the underside, and it is accompanied by two silver prongs. This port is utilized for charging with the charging dock that is included. The charging dock itself is a valuable addition, and it is supplied with electricity by means of a USB-A cable that is plugged into your own computer. Charging is another function that may be performed with the remote’s USB-C port.
Microsoft Presenter plus features
The Presenter+ comes with a variety of features and modes, all of which are intended to improve the experience that you have when delivering PowerPoint presentations or taking part in meetings hosted by Teams. Let’s begin with the presentation elements, which, as should come as no surprise, are the standout aspects of this remote.
This remote has a built-in function known as a virtual laser, which enables the user to aim at and highlight specific regions of a screen that is currently being used to deliver material. Just pressing and holding the laser button while aiming at your display enables you to use the virtual laser in any app, regardless of where you are.
It is able to follow the location of the remote using an internal gyroscope and display the laser in a relatively accurate position relative to where you would expect it to be. It operates in a manner that is very comparable to that of the Magic Remote that is included with LG televisions and allows the user to point the remote towards the screen in order to use it as a mouse.
When combined with the navigation buttons above it, the laser button creates an all-in-one solution that can be used to deliver PowerPoint presentations physically on a stage or virtually through Microsoft Teams. The fact that you cannot actually click on items with the laser pointer is the one and the only thing that is aggravating about it. You can use it to highlight items within Windows, but you won’t be able to click OK on a prompt if you try to do so with this tool.
With the dedicated mute button located along the top of the remote, it is also possible to use it to toggle the microphone. This is an excellent solution for situations in which you might find yourself moving about a tiny workplace while participating in a meeting, with other coworkers interrupting you in person at regular intervals.
The remote doesn’t have a microphone built into it, so you can’t use it as a toggle mic while you’re on the road. Nevertheless, the mute button will function as a toggle for any microphone that’s already built into the device that the remote is attached.
Lastly, the Presenter+ has a vibration motor for tactile signals, which buzzes when a Teams meeting begins, when you mute or unmute your mic when the battery is low, and even when you raise and lower your hand. It also buzzes when the battery is low. The remote does, in fact, have a secondary feature that allows you to digitally raise your hand during Team meetings.
Microsoft Presenter plus customization
It is possible to adjust a significant number of the functions and features of the Presenter+ remote, which means that you can tailor the manner in which you use the remote to suit your own preferences. You have the option of using the microphone button as a toggle, which allows you to switch between the muted and unmuted states with the click of a button, or you can use it as a push-to-talk button, which only unmutes the mic when the button is held down for an extended period of time.
There are also a variety of customization options available for the laser function, such as the capability to adjust the size and color of the laser pointer itself. If you find that the remote doesn’t do a good job of tracking the laser pointer on the screen out of the box, you may also alter the sensitivity of the gyro, which is a fantastic feature to have if you can configure it.
You can even modify the power of the tactility motor to suit your preferences, giving you the option to either increase or decrease the amount of power it provides. You are also able to toggle functions that present tactile indications on and off. For example, if you did not want the device to vibrate when you muted or unmuted your microphone, you may turn that option off.
When you pair the remote for the first time to a computer running Windows 10 or Windows 11, Microsoft’s Accessory Center program, which is a well-put-together app, is automatically loaded on the computer. With this app, you may personalize each of these capabilities. If you ever misplace your remote, the app will be able to help you “find my remote” by activating the vibration motor that is contained within it.
Microsoft Presenter Plus Compared to the Competition
There are a great number of clicker devices available on the market that provide you with the ability to control a PowerPoint presentation. Some of these clicker devices even have actual laser point pointers constructed right into them. You can get peripherals for as little as $32, such as the Logitech Presenter R400, which is capable of performing its functions thanks to its very own wireless receiver. Nevertheless, there is no customization software included, nor is there any connectivity with Microsoft Teams.
In addition, there is the DinoFire Wireless Presenter, which, like the Logitech, has a built-in level 2 laser and makes use of its very own radio frequency (RF) receiver for its operation. Nevertheless, there is no interaction with Microsoft Teams. This is going to be the primary factor that sets the Microsoft Presenter+ apart from similar clickers on the market.
A haptic motor is one of the features that can be found on the Microsoft Presenter+, along with a virtual laser, comprehensive connection with Microsoft Teams, a broad variety of settings to customize, and more. You won’t find those features on any of the other clickers now available on the market.
Microsoft Presenter plus price and availability
At its retail price of $80, the Microsoft Presenter+ can be purchased through the Microsoft Store or Amazon, linked in the previous sentence.
Microsoft Presenter plus
You should only consider purchasing Microsoft Presenter+ as a useful peripheral if you find yourself frequently tasked with delivering PowerPoint presentations in front of an audience. While navigating a PowerPoint presentation does not require a specific accessory, I do not believe that it is a necessary investment for anybody else, as it is quite simple to do so.
Having said all of this, the Presenter+ is truly just for those individuals who want or need to look professional whether presenting electronically or on stage. They will not want to be seen heading back to a laptop that is situated off the side of the stage in order to move on to the next slide. They want to maintain the momentum of their presentation by moving on to the next slide while they are conversing with the audience.
If this describes you, then the Presenter+ is without a doubt the best option available to you. Other connections with Teams, such as using the mic button as a toggle and raising your hand on the remote to indicate that you want to raise your hand in a meeting, are also welcome addition.
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