Operating system for a vehicle, wherein the operating system comprises -- a display device having a display surface, wherein the display device is recessed into a dashboard; -- a storage apparatus for storing list elements (10, 10') and preview elements (11, 11') and main elements that are assigned to the list element (10, 10') in pairs, -- an input element for a user to mark and/or select a list element (10, 10') and -- a control device that is coupled to the display device and the input element and that is able to be used to control a representative display on the display surface, wherein the display surface is able to be actuated by the control device such that, - in a first display mode, at least some of the list elements (10, 10') are displayed in a list on the display surface, - in order to provide a preview of an overall content of the main element when a list element is marked by way of the input element, the preview element that is assigned to the marked list element is displayed next to the list in an information window, wherein the information window takes up a larger surface proportion on the display surface than the marked list element, - a marking change is able to be performed by way of the input element from one list element to a further list element, - upon the marking change in the first display mode, a further information window for a further preview element that is assigned to the further list element moves up to the position of the previous information window; - a change from the first display mode to a second display mode is brought about by selecting the marked list element, wherein, in the second display mode, the main element is displayed on the display surface instead of the preview element, in particular instead of the preview element and the list element (10, 10'); wherein the display surface is able to be actuated by the control device such that, in the event of a marking change that takes place in a list run-through direction between the list element and one or more further list elements, corresponding scrolling is performed in the same list run-through direction for the information window of the preview element and the further information window of the preview elements that are each assigned to the one or more further list elements; wherein the input element is a rotary pushbutton switch, a roller and/or a button on a multifunction steering wheel or on a Pitman arm; and wherein an amount of information in the main elements is larger than the amount of information in the preview elements; wherein the list element provides a collective designation, the preview element in the information window provides a summary content overview for the overall content of the main element in the form of a keyword-type summary and the main element provides the overall content, for example current vehicle information; wherein the operating system is designed such that preliminary information in the preview element and detailed information in the main element are constantly or regularly updated; wherein the user is able to set which keyword-type summaries are displayed on the display surface. -- a display device having a display surface, wherein the display device is recessed into a dashboard; -- a storage apparatus for storing list elements (10, 10') and preview elements (11, 11') and main elements that are assigned to the list element (10, 10') in pairs, -- an input element for a user to mark and/or select a list element (10, 10') and -- a control device that is coupled to the display device and the input element and that is able to be used to control a representative display on the display surface, - in a first display mode, at least some of the list elements (10, 10') are displayed in a list on the display surface, - in order to provide a preview of an overall content of the main element when a list element is marked by way of the input element, the preview element that is assigned to the marked list element is displayed next to the list in an information window, wherein the information window takes up a larger surface proportion on the display surface than the marked list element, - a marking change is able to be performed by way of the input element from one list element to a further list element, - upon the marking change in the first display mode, a further information window for a further preview element that is assigned to the further list element moves up to the position of the previous information window; - a change from the first display mode to a second display mode is brought about by selecting the marked list element, wherein, in the second display mode, the main element is displayed on the display surface instead of the preview element, in particular instead of the preview element and the list element (10, 10'); wherein the input element is a rotary pushbutton switch, a roller and/or a button on a multifunction steering wheel or on a Pitman arm; and wherein an amount of information in the main elements is larger than the amount of information in the preview elements; wherein the list element provides a collective designation, the preview element in the information window provides a summary content overview for the overall content of the main element in the form of a keyword-type summary and the main element provides the overall content, for example current vehicle information; wherein the operating system is designed such that preliminary information in the preview element and detailed information in the main element are constantly or regularly updated; wherein the user is able to set which keyword-type summaries are displayed on the display surface.