This is a handy link that will show you
How to register and setup your nick
Oh and in step 6 they don't tell you how to authenticate your name at login, if you have a 'perform buffer' type thing like in trillian just type the following in the buffer..
/msg nickserv identify <password>; /join #spaceempires
don't place the < > brackets, just your password that you registered by following the first 5 steps in the above link.
I hope this helps, Cheers!
Edit: Slower? well, be honest now. it's slower to login, but once you're logged everything seems to run smoothe.