[ianc]

Here's a few responses:

1) Any app can add things to the control panel. Some shouldn't but do. Icon spacing and text size can be adjusted to remove the cutoff text if it bothers you.

2) The icons represent little applets to be used for controlling various options. Some come with the OS, some are added by IBM, Symantec, etc., and have really no place there IMO. They can be deleted and\or renamed.

3) They're two different devices.

4) Internet options are primarly IE settings. Phone and modem lets you setup dialling locations, telephony providers, etc. Wireless link is for infrared connections, not network. Wireless Networks starts a wizard to let you configure a new wireless network or configure existing ones.

5) Security center contains redundant settings; I agree it doesn't need to be there.

6) The system can detect and install new drivers on its own generally. However, unlike Macs, not all hardware is made by MS, and some doesn't work properly. This app is for working around problems that arise.

7) All these devices have an app to configure them. Of course the system knows about them, and this is where they're managed. Where else would you do it?

8) Mail lets you setup mail accounts, profiles and data file locations. This setting is modified with the installation of Outlook. These things can also be done from within the mail client.

9) Both Java icons are created with the installation of Sun Java. They are not part of the OS or created by MS.

10) User accounts can be accessed from administrative tools, or in a number of other ways. It is just a commonly used item and got its own icon. It can be deleted if deemed unnecessary. The system icon allows various hardware settings of the system to be modified. Everything in the system icon can also be done elsewhere in a more relevant place.

11) Folder options can be accessed from any explorer window, as well as from here. Fonts lets one add or remove fonts from the system.

12) Accessibility is for handicapped people and allows 'sticky keys', magnification, etc. The Trackpoint is added by IBM and not part of the OS. They could have incorporated it into the accessibility options, but chose not to.

About 90% of these settings can be accessed from other places within the OS, usually in more relevant places. The control panel is just a convenient place to group them all. As you gain experience, it becomes more seldomly used. I rarely use it, but just showed it to demonstrate that things are grouped in one place, if that's what you want. For myself, I don't place that much importance on having everything in one spot. I would rather have things where I'm likely to need them. For example, folder options can be accessed from any folder, internet options can be accessed from within IE, and for me it's more convenient to do things from there. Your choice.

Regarding your modified view, again I think it's just user preference. You group things according to perceived functions because you're used to Macs and would prefer it the way Macs are. The default Windows grouping is alphabetical. Once you get used to that, it seems preferable to me to group things that way.

It's all in what you're used to and how you work,

ianc