OS X Mavericks: This is how the new notification center works

Since OS 10.8 Mountain Lion, the notification center, popular with iOS, has also served you well on your Mac. With OS X Mavericks, the Message Center now has some additional functions:

Set up the message center

In the system settings under the menu item "Messages", a "do not disturb period" can be set for the entire message center and you can activate and deactivate the release buttons here. In addition, there is a separate menu for each program in this area, in which you can configure the messages.

• On-screen notifications as a hint, banner or not at all. Notes remain in the foreground until you close them, while banners only appear for a short period of time.
• Enable or disable notifications on the lock screen
• Always preview the message in the notification note, only when the screen is unlocked or not at all.

Reply to incoming messages directly from the Mavericks message center

You can answer short Skype or iMessage messages in the new OS X Mavericks directly via the message center.

• To do this, first click on the "Reply" button in the pop-up notification. For banners, the button only appears when you move your mouse over it.
• Then simply type your text into the input window and send it off with Return.
• The "Reply" feature is also available for Mail, however, do not enter your reply text there in an input field in the message center, but rather in the classic way via the Mail Client.