Do you like the MacOS Ventura System settings? [MERGED]

[colonel179]

I updated to Ventura yesterday and I must say I actually liked the new system settings.

There are a few minor issues I had to deal with. For example: why is it the show date and day of the week under Mission Control instead of Time & Date?

Also, one that has bugged me since many years (not related to the new change) is the drag without lock is in accessibility instead of trackpad.

To me, felt much easier to go to each setting. Didn’t like that it’s iOS-ified in design, but other than that I felt it was much more convenient and I liked it.

 

[Martyimac]

Since they are modeled after the iPhone system settings I don't have any real beefs with the new look. I find I can usually find what I'm looking for using the search.

 

[dmr727]

It's a big change, but after reading all the negativity over the last few months I'm finding myself wondering what the big deal is. I don't mind it at all, and the search function works fine.

 

[turbineseaplane]

What I don't like about it is the constraining it to a very narrow max width

It needs to be an App that you can spread out horizontally and see "more" as you do it --- we are on computers with large screens (sometimes huge) -- use that space!

Right now it feels exactly like an iPhone app running on desktop

 

[fisherking]

What I don't like about it is the constraining it to a very narrow max width

It needs to be an App that you can spread out horizontally and see "more" as you do it --- we are on computers with large screens (sometimes huge) -- use that space!

Right now it feels exactly like an iPhone app running on desktop

what's the gain? every submenu shows everything it needs to show (and you can select 'show all' in wallpapers). can't see what the benefit would be to have it larger... you'd mostly just gain more empty space in each window... 🤔

 

[elptdbi3lYI]

Why on earth can we not resize the system prefs like any other app window? it wouldn't be as bad if the content would actually fit the window!? (it does not)

View attachment 2102414

So you don't end up with this, one of the reasons old preferences were superior is that window adjusted to the size of pane content automatically.

 

[Novius89]

I like it and i am already used to it. Only started to use macos in januari 2021 for the first time.
The former style was oke, but this is a big improvement.

 

[usagora]

what's the gain? every submenu shows everything it needs to show (and you can select 'show all' in wallpapers). can't see what the benefit would be to have it larger... you'd mostly just gain more empty space in each window... 🤔

Agreed, and it's certainly not "very narrow" either. The point is, like you said, you can see everything you need to at the width it is. There'd be no point in widening the window.

 

[GlenK]

Really like the new Settings but it does take some time! Has a really good Search function that really helps!!

 

[Pecka]

I may be wrong but haven't they simplified the power manager settings? Before one was able to let the screen turn off but still prevent the computer from suspending?

 

[maxoakland]

not a problem at all... since it *works*. the grid makes sense to you, i get that. but again, you'll get used to this, and one day it will seem perfect (or close enough).

once you configure the things you want to configure in system settings, how often will you need to return to it? 🤔

That’s very pretentious, acting like my legitimate complaints about design which are backed up by user interface studies, are just me being not used to something.

Also “you won’t use it much so it doesn’t matter” isn’t a legitimate design philosophy

 

[maxoakland]

The search function is there precisely to make System Settings/Preferences faster to use, especially for settings that are a few layers deep in the hierarchy.

You realize that’s exactly what I’m talking about, right? If it’s that inconvenient to find and use a setting, it’s a failed design.

I never had to do that with the System Preferences app, but if it was a common problem *that* is exactly the kind of thing their redesign should’ve addressed. Not just making it look like iOS to trick people into thinking it’s new

it WOULD be nice if Apple had multiple layout choices for System Settings (sort of like Windows has their "new" Settings view but you can still use Control Panel), because I don't see how that could hurt anything, but unfortunately they did not code that in at this time.

Windows has rightfully been castigated for years for their insane settings disarray. People have a hard time remembering which *app* has the setting they want, let alone which pane or option. But you think that’s what Apple should be aspiring to?

 

[usagora]

You realize that’s exactly what I’m talking about, right? If it’s that inconvenient to find and use a setting, it’s a failed design.

I never had to do that with the System Preferences app, but if it was a common problem *that* is exactly the kind of thing their redesign should’ve addressed. Not just making it look like iOS to trick people into thinking it’s new

Please read what I wrote more carefully. You did not quote the part of my post that came right before that. I said:

I used the search box all the time in the old style System Preferences, so using your logic I guess the old design failed 😉 Of course, that's not true.

Why do you think it's superior to manually browse for a setting if you know what it is? Waste of time. Just search for it. Boom. Done. This applies to both the old style "System Preferences" AND the new style "System Settings". The old style also had more advanced settings buried a few layers down. I know of know major OS or app settings menu that doesn't.

Windows has rightfully been castigated for years for their insane settings disarray. People have a hard time remembering which *app* has the setting they want, let alone which pane or option. But you think that’s what Apple should be aspiring to?

Again, you didn't read carefully. I said it would be nice if Apple gave users more layout choices, just like Windows has multiple ways to view system settings. I didn't say Apple should organize their settings like Windows does, but just that they should give us multiple options to display the settings interface like they do.

But I use Windows 11 daily and have no problem finding the setting I need because all you have to do is search for it using the taskbar. So simple. Just like you can also use Spotlight on Mac to search for a setting.

 

[maxoakland]

But I use Windows 11 daily and have no problem finding the setting I need because all you have to do is search for it using the taskbar. So simple. Just like you can also use Spotlight on Mac to search for a setting.

I read what you said. I fundamentally disagree with your beliefs. It’s as simple as that. If you think searching for a setting is a good enough solution, I 100% disagree with you

I care about this a lot because for whatever reason, I’m really excited by great UI design and I want to see that. It’s one of the reasons I got excited about Apple and Mac OS in the first place. It was never perfect because nothing’s perfect, but you can tell when care is put into something

 

[usagora]

I read what you said. I fundamentally disagree with your beliefs. It’s as simple as that. If you think searching for a setting is a good enough solution, I 100% disagree with you

I care about this a lot because for whatever reason, I’m really excited by great UI design and I want to see that. It’s one of the reasons I got excited about Apple and Mac OS in the first place. It was never perfect because nothing’s perfect, but you can tell when care is put into something

If you read it, then it was not understood (or at least your response gave no indication that it was). You were saying the fact that I used the search function meant System Settings has a failed design, yet I told you I also used the search function with System Preferences. So by your logic, that means System Preferences was also a failed design. Pretty simple train of thought. But of course I disagree with your logic. I don't know of any major app that lacks a search function for settings (as well as actions). So are you saying they are all failed designs? Come on. It's just common sense to give users a powerful search functionality when there are lots of settings.

As I mentioned before in the thread, I design web apps, so I'm also very keen on good UI design. I fail to see where the UI of System Settings is committing any major sin. Obviously a lot of this is subjective, and there's always room for improvement to some degree, but to call this a bad design or say that Apple put no care into it is way off base, imo.

Again, I will never argue that it wouldn't be better for Apple to give users more customizability for apps, but I think the layout they're "forcing" on us here is not bad at all, though of course I understand that you can't please everyone (thus why options would be nice).

 

[fisherking]

That’s very pretentious, acting like my legitimate complaints about design which are backed up by user interface studies, are just me being not used to something.

Also “you won’t use it much so it doesn’t matter” isn’t a legitimate design philosophy

i just stated my opinion, don't see anything remotely pretentious about it. and your 'legitimate complaints backed up by user interface studies'? that seems the height of pretension.

can you point to the 'user interface studies' that you've referenced? 🤔

 

[maxoakland]

i just stated my opinion, don't see anything remotely pretentious about it. and your 'legitimate complaints backed up by user interface studies'? that seems the height of pretension.

can you point to the 'user interface studies' that you've referenced? 🤔

Of course you would turn it back on me.

Here, Let Me Google That For You

Passive-aggressively teach your friends how to Google. For all those people who find it more convenient to ask you rather than search it themselves. Not associated with Google.

googlethatforyou.com

 

[fisherking]

Of course you would turn it back on me.

Here, Let Me Google That For You

Passive-aggressively teach your friends how to Google. For all those people who find it more convenient to ask you rather than search it themselves. Not associated with Google.

googlethatforyou.com

you haven't answered the question. really, it seems like you're being passive-aggressive. you made a statement, i asked you about your sources for what you stated, you deflected. hmmmmm

 

[TinyMito]

It's better than clicking back and fore between settings but I just wish the menu or items a bit bigger.

 

[rehkram]

This thread should retitled to
"Do you like the MacOS Ventura System settings? And does anyone really give a sh**?" 🤣

 

[yellowhelicopter]

Don't like it all. It was so nicely organised, logically divided between groups, and all the icons/sections on one screen without scrolling. Now I have a strong feeling the number of sections, texts and various switches grew like 2 times, it feels cumbersome and overloaded.

Apple, why are doing this? First Microsoft with its "unification", and now Apple too. They should leave iOS interface for mobile devices.

 

[fisherking]

Don't like it all. It was so nicely organised, logically divided between groups, and all the icons/sections on one screen without scrolling. Now I have a strong feeling the number of sections, texts and various switches grew like 2 times, it feels cumbersome and overloaded.

Apple, why are doing this? First Microsoft with its "unification", and now Apple too. They should leave iOS interface for mobile devices.

give it time. i find (after getting used to it), that it's a more-logical, mature design. and if they've added functionality, that seems like a plus (to me). plus, you can always use the system settings search window...

 

[jgbr]

I am not sure about it. I can live with it but I prefer the old one.

I am starting to get the feeling that Mac OS is getting a little childish looking. But we went through many different eras in the OSX days of pure Aqua, to skeuomorph to the flat age and now to this (what ever they call it). I do long for perhaps a plainer older look from maybe the Snow Leopard days....

 

[Bodhitree]

I’ve been using Ventura for a few days now, and I have to say I appreciate quite a few little touches about it, the new System Settings being one of them. The searchable, iOS-like paradigm feels more natural than a collection of icons in a grid, where I sometimes have to hunt about for what I need.

 

[fisherking]

I am not sure about it. I can live with it but I prefer the old one.

I am starting to get the feeling that Mac OS is getting a little childish looking. But we went through many different eras in the OSX days of pure Aqua, to skeuomorph to the flat age and now to this (what ever they call it). I do long for perhaps a plainer older look from maybe the Snow Leopard days....

hmm. the previous system preferences looks more 'childish' to me that the new settings. interesting how different people see things.

why would apple go backwards? (and please apple, don't go backwards). anyway, i'm sure you'll get used to; see how it feels in a month, 3 months. etc...