Mac OS 9 made it easy to launch files and applications at boot up. For example, consider a technician who works day after day answering emails from their company’s customers. For that tech, it may be advantageous to have the email client launch automatically each time the system is booted. By simply adding an alias of their email client to the Startup Items folder inside of the System Folder (located in the root the boot drive), that application would launch each time the system booted. Many users who have recently upgraded to OS X have realized that this method no longer works.
OS X actually improves on OS 9’s functionality, in this respect, and makes the process easier. Now, rather than stowing your alias in the inner depths of the System Folder, you simple open the System Preferences window and click on Login items. Simply drag your email client into this window and it will be launched at the end of the system boot or login.
