The Windows control panel has been a fundamental component of Microsoft systems since the company started the era of graphical interfaces back in 1985 with Windows 1.0. But Microsoft wants to remove it and he’s been taking steps towards it for a long time. The latest has been announced by Brandon LeBlanc en the Windows blog and it seems definitive to complete the strategy.
Microsoft released in Windows 8 a general “Configuration” tool of the operating system. Adapted to the Modern UI interface, the firm has maintained, improved and expanded it in Windows 10. Soon we could see that Microsoft’s intentions with this tool was to replace the classic panel and even removed the shortcut that was located in the menu of Alternate user that opens when right-clicking on the start menu.
In successive updates to Windows 10, Microsoft has been removing some functions from the Windows control panel and moving others to the Configuration tool. More modern, visually appealing and surely easier to use for all types of users, it has had commitments since its inception.
On the one hand it is not as direct, nor as complete, nor as intuitive as the classic panel. At least for advanced users who have spent decades using a vital component for system management and maintenance. In addition, Microsoft has been moving elements from time to time without a specific script, duplicating functions unnecessarily, linking tools from one to another and driving users not quite familiar with the company’s strategy crazy.
Configuration in front of control panel
Now it seems that Microsoft is taking some steps to wipe out the classic Control Panel forever. In a recent post announcing what’s new in Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 20161, Brandon LeBlanc points out changes to “Bring the capabilities of the Control Panel to Settings”.
One of the changes involves «Move the information found on the System page of the Control Panel to the equivalent page of the Configuration». This means that the main information of the computer, such as the processor, memory, device identification and type of system, will be available in the tool. And it also means that the links designed to open the System page in the Control Panel will now lead the user to the Settings app.
Messy, very messy. Microsoft should make a final decision on the “Configuration” capabilities and complete it accordingly with one of the most important internal tools on Windows systems. And decide at once what to do with the Windows Control Panel.
One idea: move all the important elements at once to Settings, hide the classic panel, but keep it internally for users who want to activate it. How would you do it? Do you prefer the classic panel or the configuration interface?
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