Chapter 13: Setting System Preferences

Overview

Computers are highly configurable. Numerous settings let you adjust most aspects of a computer’s operation. You can adjust interface, hardware, and network settings, among others, as well as overall system preferences. Within Mac OS X, system software configuration and settings are managed by a central program known as the System Preferences application. Configuration of system settings within the System Preferences application are done through a Quartz GUI element, known as a pane. When a specific system preference is selected, the corresponding preference pane is loaded within the System Preferences application. Preference panes redraw themselves within the confines of the initial System Preferences application’s window. The System Preferences application’s window has a fixed width, but it resizes vertically to accommodate the contents of the preference pane being viewed.

The contents of the System Preferences application are divided in up to five preconfigured categories: Personal, Hardware, Internet & Network, System, and Other. The Personal section contains the preferences for Appearance, Desktop & Screen Saver, Dock, Expos , International, and Security. Through the Hardware section, Bluetooth, CDs & DVDs, Displays, Energy Saver, Ink, Keyboard & Mouse, Print & Fax, and Sound preferences can be configured. Within the Internet & Network section, .Mac, Network, QuickTime, and Sharing preferences can be configured. The System section contains the Accounts, Classic, Date & Time, Software Update, Speech, Startup Disk, and Universal Access preferences. The other section only appears if there are preferences to set that fall outside of the previous four categories. With the exception of Apple’s Remote Desktop centralized desktop management software, these preference panes are typically for third-party-supplied applications.

In addition to these categories, you also find a user customizable toolbar, similar to the one found in a Finder window. This toolbar is located at the top of the System Preferences application screen. This section contains user-selected preference pane shortcuts that can be accessed from any point within the System Preference application. By default, the following system preference shortcuts reside in this section: Displays, Sound, Network, and Startup Disk. Any of the default system preference shortcuts can be deleted, as desired. Also, any of the preferences within the System Preferences application can have shortcuts in the user-customizable toolbar.

In this Chapter, you find out details about System Preferences that are not covered in other Chapters of this book. Table 13-1 specifies where each System Preference pane is covered in the book.

Table 13-1: Coverage of System Preferences

System Preferences Pane	Covered In
Accounts	Chapter 14
Appearance	Chapter 4
Bluetooth	Chapter 15
CDs & DVDs	This Chapter
Classic	Chapter 17
Date & Time	This Chapter
Desktop & Screen Saver	Chapter 4
Displays	This Chapter
Dock	Chapter 4
Energy Saver	This Chapter
Expos	Chapter 4
Ink	This Chapter
International	This Chapter
Keyboard & Mouse	This Chapter
.Mac	Chapter 18
Network	Chapter 15
Print & Fax	Chapter 9
QuickTime	Chapter 20
Security	Chapter 27
Sharing	Chapter 16
Software Update	Chapter 22
Sound	This Chapter
Speech	This Chapter
Startup Disk	This Chapter
Universal Access	This Chapter