Design evolution of the Windows control panel

Post by bee_rider » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 4:05 AM UTC

kaetemi wrote: post #8

Classic view with classic icon arrangement is still the easiest to find things. Mostly, I guess, because the organisation of things doesn't change every other version, or goes to hide under a different vaguely named subsection every so often. The fact that Updates are under Security, and not under Apps does say something about Windows, though...

Post by voidfunc » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 4:10 AM UTC

gjvc wrote: post #2

Windows 2000 was clearly the peak in this article, and (as a whole system) it did feel like it at the time. (I do wish it had included ClearType though...)

Post by im_down_w_otp » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 4:13 AM UTC

LeoPanthera wrote: post #13

nwah1 wrote: post #10

Left off Windows 11. The new one is the most logical one yet. Don't like that much about Windows 11, but the control panel is improved.

Are there still two separate ones? A "modern" one and a "classic" one? What frustrates me about Windows 10 is that each one has settings which are exclusive to it, so you always need both, and never know where to look.

Post by gjvc » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 4:17 AM UTC

voidfunc wrote: post #14

gjvc wrote: post #2

Windows 2000 was clearly the peak in this article, and (as a whole system) it did feel like it at the time. (I do wish it had included ClearType though...)

While I agree, Id also argue virtually every posters opinion on HN about design of the Windows CP is useless. Most of us are power users and it we are not power users we are incredibly opinionated about some UX stuff.

Post by kaidon » Fri, Dec 17, 2021, 4:43 AM UTC

claviska wrote: post #4

My first PC had Windows 3.1 and I very vividly remember the buttons, the menus, and many of the icons. In a way, they still inspire me to this day. In fact, I themed a Shoelace button based on 3.1 a few months ago. https://codepen.io/claviska/details/zYwgyEO