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Mac OS X Tiger/System Preferences

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Introduction

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Using System Preferences

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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

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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.