Login items

Sometimes it makes a lot of sense to have your Mac launch certain applications upon startup - these will be items which are constantly in use such as your email. I do not really suggest having too many items as login items, especially if you are a little impatient and like to get started right away, as having a large number of login items can delay startup by a few minutes. 

Also beware of certain software which has the effrontery to automatically give itself automatic login item status - this really gets up my nose.

Anyway, to add (or remove) login items go to system preferences, select “Accounts” and choose the “Login Items” tab as in the images above.

Then to add a login item simply press the “+” button at the bottom of the list and select the application you wish to add, and to remove a login item select it from the list and press the “-” button.