Lesson #4: CONTROL STRIP

How do I use the control strip and what is it for?

The control strip is a handy little tool that allows you to make system-wide changes to your computer with one click of a button. Think of it as a 'shortcut to Control Panels.'

What's a Control Panel?

Control panels allow you to configure a wide variety of functions that helps your computer work properly. Most control panels are not used very often. The Control Strip, however, streamlines the many Control Panels into several of the most commonly used choices.

If you do not see the Control Strip at the bottom of your screen, go "Under the Apple" to "Control Panels" and click on "Control Strip".

Highlighting the Control Strip will open a window where you can select SHOW CONTROL STRIP.

The Control Strip looks like a tiny little belt buckle at the bottom of your screen:

Clicking on the Control Strip expands to show the following options:

How do I change the color settings on my computer?

The two controls you will use most often are the COLOR and MONITOR RESOLUTION settings. Some applications can only run with 256 colors, while others can run MILLIONS of colors. To change the color settings for your computer, open the Control Strip and click on the button that looks like a "rainbow" screen.

The black dot shows you the current setting. Move your cursor to select a different option, such as '256 colors.' Doing this will cause your screen to go dark for a moment while the monitor changes from millions of colors to 256. You can always change back to millions of colors later.

How do I change the monitor settings on my computer?

The monitor settings help set your screen resolution. Sometimes you may notice that everything on your screen looks very, very small, making it difficult to read certain documents or websites. It's possible that your screen resolution is set to a very high number. These numbers represent "pixels."

What's a pixel?

The official definition is: pixel (from "picture element"): the smallest unit of an image, one of the colored dots that make up a screen picture. A typical VGA screen has a resolution of 640 pixels (screen width) by 480 pixels (screen height).

Most iMac monitors are set to a screen resolution of 800 x 600. Many of the newer, larger, computer screens can handle a much higher setting, since the pixels are spread over a larger area. Some people prefer LARGE TEXT and may want to set their screen resolution to 640 x 480. The choice is yours. Keep in mind, though, that a high screen resolution allows you to have many windows open at the same time, while a low resolution will make everything LOOK bigger, but you can't have more than one or two windows open. Experiment with different settings and see which works best for YOU. Here's how to change your monitor setting:

Click on the Control Strip and click the button that looks like a checkerboard screen. The black dot shows the current setting. Move your mouse to select a different screen resolution and watch what happens.

Now you know what the Control Strip does, and how you can use this tool to change settings on your computer. Spend some time exploring the various buttons on the Control Strip. You may find yourself using it more than you think!

Watch a movie about the Control Strip! CLICK HERE! (:57)

Ready to review your knowledge of the Control Strip? Take a short QUIZ to check for understanding.