Mac OS X Tiger/System Preferences

Introduction

Using System Preferences

When you open System Preferences, you see the System Preferences main screen. This screen is full of icons, each representing a "pane", or group of controls. System Preferences grouped into Personal, Hardware, Internet & Network, and System rows. As with all other aspects of Tiger, Spotlight is built into the top right corner of the System Preferences menu.

The Preference Panes

Wikibook Development Stages
Sparse text 0% Developing text 25% Maturing text 50% Developed text 75% Comprehensive text 100%

The following is a list of all of the default System Preferences panes. Each pane has a specific purpose. Usually, the name of the window gives it away, while others, such as Security, may have many different purposes.

  1. Personal
    1. Appearance 100% developed  as of Jun 16, 2006
      Change the appearance of your Mac's controls.
    2. Dashboard & Exposé 100% developed  as of Jul 18, 2006
      Choose how you activate Dashboard and Exposé.
    3. Desktop & Screensaver 100% developed  as of August 30, 2006
      Change your Desktop Picture and Screensaver.
    4. Dock 100% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set fine-grained options over the Dock.
    5. International 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set up your computer so you can read and write in another language.
    6. Security 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Lock down your computer with FileVault encryption and other security measures.
    7. Spotlight 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Organize your Spotlight results and block certain folders for privacy.
  2. Hardware
    1. Bluetooth 0% developed  as of Jun 16, 2006
      Configure your Mac's built-in Bluetooth module.
    2. CDs & DVDs 100% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Tell your Mac what to do when a disc is inserted.
    3. Displays 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Configure the display(s) attached to your Mac.
    4. Energy Saver 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set timers and options to lower your computer's power consumption.
    5. Keyboard & Mouse 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Customize your computer's keyboard and mouse.
    6. Print & Fax 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set up printers and send faxes.
    7. Sound 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Choose a set of speakers and a microphone, set options, and choose an alert sound.
  3. Internet & Network
    1. .Mac 0% developed  as of Jun 16, 2006
      Set up and use .Mac services including iDisk and Sync.
    2. Network 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Manage your Mac's various network connections.
    3. QuickTime 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Optimize QuickTime for best performance while playing movies over the Internet.
    4. Sharing 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set up your Mac to share services with other computers on a network.
  4. System
    1. Accounts
      The master control panel for Mac OS X's account system. The link above will take you to Chapter 8.
    2. Classic
      Classic lets you run Mac OS 9 inside a bubble, but it's being phased out this year and is not covered in this Wikibook.
    3. Date & Time 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Adjust you Mac's clock and calendar.
    4. Software Update 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set your Mac to automatically check for updates online.
    5. Speech 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Have your computer speak to you, or speak to your computer.
    6. Startup Disk 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Choose a disk for your computer to boot from.
    7. Universal Access 0% developed  as of Mar 19, 2006
      Set options to accommodate you if you have trouble seeing, hearing, or using a keyboard and mouse.
  5. Other
    This section contains panes from add-on software products like Apple Remote Desktop and Flip4Mac.
Category:Book:Mac OS X Tiger#System%20Preferences%20
Category:Book:Mac OS X Tiger