Mac 101: System Preferences
This is another entry in our continuing Mac 101 series, aimed at new Mac users. These tips are old hat for veteran Mac users, but will save some people a lot of grief.I know several people who have switched from Windows to the Mac over the past year. While they're happy with their decision, they all tell me the same thing: "I don't know where to find anything."
Typically, the topic arises when they're looking for the "control panel" to change a system setting. Since Apple's System Preference panel looks different that the Windows Control Panel, it isn't immediately helpful.
Until they ask it what they're looking for.
There's a small search box in the upper right-hand corner of the System Preferences window. Typing a keyword or two into that field reveals just where that function lives with a "spotlight" effect. For example, if I want to adjust my alert volume, typing "volume" highlights the Sound panel.
This method also provides helpful text. For example, typing "email" produces this list
- Email faxes
- Email and chat restrictions (parental controls)
- Limiting email and instant messages
- Sending permission emails
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Theo said 4:26PM on 7-03-2008
Never knew about that, pretty cool.
And funny (to me) ... if you type in porn, it'll highlight the Parental Controls icon. HAHA
Reply
Tristan said 2:18PM on 7-03-2008
I switched to mac about a week ago and I was having problems connection to a work group. all I had to do was search workgroup and it brought the pane right up. simple and elegant!
Reply
Balls said 2:43PM on 7-03-2008
Keep up the Mac 101 articles!
Reply
Lustigson said 3:39PM on 7-03-2008
I usually tell new or potential switchers to forget everything they learned on Windows and look for stuff in the spot where you'd find it logical to be, not in the spot where Windows puts it.
Reply
julian said 4:52PM on 7-03-2008
I guess I took it for granted when i first started using my mac
after using spotlight for like a week i intuitively used the bar
great tip for when teaching others though!
Reply
Jon said 7:20PM on 7-03-2008
The search function is a great tool but most switchers wouldn't think of using it because they wouldn't expect it to operate that way. When I switched to the Mac 2-3 years ago I struggled for the first week as I was trying to do things "the Windows way" and of course they didn't work. Once I realized that the Mac needed a whole different thought process, everything became a lot easier.
Reply
Jamie said 8:57PM on 7-03-2008
isn't it ironic that when you type in "volume", it offers the isub sound as an option, when Apple has pretty much abandoned the isub since the intel transition. It makes for a great boat anchor now!
Reply
jrm said 11:30PM on 7-03-2008
okay, first you write "different than" instead of "different from" ... then you mispell "than" as "that" ... i hate to be anal like this, but, as my father would say, "if you can't spell, don't try doing so in public"
Reply
Unregistered said 12:04AM on 7-04-2008
@Jon - I agree with you completely! As I work with Windows most of the time at work, I still am very much in Windows mode even at home! So this tip is very much appreciated, as I still struggle occasionally with System Preferences!
Reply
RP said 6:43AM on 7-04-2008
I actually made the switch to Mac only yesterday evening (well, my desktop which I'm on at the moment is a PC, so it's not exactly a switch per se), and I have to say the system preferences interface is just about the only part of the OSX interface that DOESN'T completely befuddle me. It's /very/ similar to windows as far as I'm concerned.
One thing I haven't been able to locate though, how do I turn off the startup sound on my mac?
Reply
peter said 8:27AM on 7-04-2008
you can't turn off the start up sound, but there is a free application called 'psst' which is easy and excellent.
Thx a lot for the tip. I switched a year ago and has never looked back. But with such a miserable search-funktion as in Windows, I was used to not having that option.
Spotlight has been my good friend in the switching and learning-process. Now with this tip it is even more useful. Thanks also for the 101's altogether.
Reply
Rhywun said 11:05AM on 7-04-2008
Vista finally allows you to search the control panel, which is good because otherwise the control panel has become a complete and utter mess.
Reply
Jon T said 2:59PM on 8-13-2008
".. control panel has become a complete and utter mess".
I think you mean to say:
"..Windows has become a complete and utter mess".
Reply