Hi Lucie,
I had the same experience yesterday - 8th grader with powerpoint .pptx 
from office 07, from home - was a tribute to a teacher from the class.  
I had to install ms-office service pack 2, then the converter....but it 
worked out fine and everyone was happy!  It was also a learning 
experience for all involved.  Guess we'll be busy re-imaging this summer.
-Rob Stalling
Tech Support
Barre Supervisory Union
Lucie deLaBruere wrote:
> today's 'tech fire extinguisher episode" relating to a pptx file 
> extension just took away one of my reservations about a larger scale 
> deployment of Open Office!
>  
> 1.  Fifth grader, Susie, can't open her presentation for the big end 
> of year culminating activity that she worked so hard with her dad last 
> night.  As a matter of fact Dad's leaving work early so he can come 
> see her present.  He sent her to school with his  1 gig U3 thumbdrive 
> and her file RosaParks.pptx on it.  Susie and her teacher are in a 
> panic!   Forty five minutes later, I'm installing file converters and 
> downloading viewers for Powerpoint 2007 after sifting through lots of  
> online rants from frustrated  users dealing with File compatability 
> issues for a solution to this 'tech glitche".
>  (http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/11/30/open-view-edit-and-save-office-2007-documents-spreadsheets-workbooks-and-presentations-in-office-2003-xp-or-2000/ 
> <http://www.mydigitallife.info/2006/11/30/open-view-edit-and-save-office-2007-documents-spreadsheets-workbooks-and-presentations-in-office-2003-xp-or-2000/>)
>
> For those of you staying away from Open Office in order to avoid 
> training users to work with file compatibility issues,  Microsoft has 
> just decided that this is an experience we shouldn't be deprived of!   
> ARRGH!!  well at least I know what  a .pptx file is now!   but the 
> *.odp lesson about file compatibility  is a lot cheaper...
>  
> sorry.. just had to rant
>  
> Lucie
>  
>  
> On 4/13/07, *Bryant Patten* <[log in to unmask] 
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
>     Dear Pizza Attendees  - and non Attendees
>
>            As was discussed during today's conference,  one of the
>     questions
>     that is often asked around Open Source use in schools is 'Who else is
>     using Open Source?'  While we had an impressive show of hands at the
>     conference, it would be even better to have a more specific list of
>     people/schools that are using FOSS solutions and which programs
>     people are using.
>
>            If people want to reply (on list or off list to my email),
>     I would
>     be happy to compile the results and either send them out to anyone
>     that replies or post the final result back to this list.
>
>            In a related question, would there be any interest in
>     forming a Open
>     Source and Education Users group?
>
>     Thanks,
>
>     Bryant Patten
>     [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Lucie deLaBruere
> www.LearningWithLucie.com <http://www.LearningWithLucie.com>
>
> Work: 802 527  0565 x 3206
> Cell:  802  752  6086
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>