System Preferences

In Mac OS X, user settings are called preferences, as opposed to Microsoft Windows' control panels, settings, and options. A Mac application's preferences are available in its application menu the Word menu for Microsoft Word, for example, or the iChat menu for iChat.

System Preferences, available from the Apple menu, provides access to Mac OS X setup and configuration options (Figure 8.16). This is a good place to go exploring to see what settings are available to you. Mac settings can be changed easily if you make a mistake.

Figure 8.16. System Preferences, available from the Apple menu, allow you to change many Mac OS X settings.