Presentation Tools - what is easy - what is not.

The most difficult thing about web tools is the learning curve.  A web tools that is intuitive with minimal instruction and still allows for the most creative personalization is the holy grail!  Some programs roll out a simplistic version for free that is clean in design but limited in use.  The user is soon frustrated with the limitations and after investing time to develop a limited product is not likely to switch to new but be willing to plunk down money for the "premium" version.  The cruix is to create a product where the user is not so frustrated as to abandon their work but make that leap with cash.
Some of the products listed on the resources page were fun to use but took time to just play with.  I found that many were blocked on my district website.  Any that had blogs and image file sharing were blocked as well.  As costs for IT skyrocket, my district has had to cut the IT department. This cut is hampering our ability to have sites proofed before allowing through the district firewalls.  None of the bloggs listed on my present coursework for my masters is allowed.  I cannot even play the video on the resources page of my class on my school computer. Youtube is completely blocked.
I have found that some of the products have a lower learning curve. Prezi was fun and quite intuitive.  I had my kids knock it around a bit and couldn't get them off of it for me to spend some time with it.  I've used webposter - ok but boring. Our technology class uses WIX as a web design tool. The students enjoy the ease and have equal access to it at home.  The best part is that the school tech adm is also the tech teacher and she can set limits to what content the students can upload to be visible at school.  I will be spending more time with these this comin week to see which works best for my presentation.  I think I will ask the 8th grade tech class to test drive a few that are district accessible and give me a synopsis of performance from their perspective. The tech teacher is always looking for opportunities like this for her students.  If I get the feedback in a timely manner, I will post.  One I did not see is Edmodo.com - its like a social network for classrooms.  I know of quite a few tech teachers that use it to guide classroom instruction, notes, homework, grading, etc. 
All of the others that had any links to blogs, youtube, social networks, or chats are blocked at school.  Although some would be great for personal use, my focus is for classroom use, if I can't see it, neither can my students and I will not waste my time on work that will not benefit my students.
http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/Presentation+Tools
http://www.edmodo.com/