[tinkthank]

THank you.
I did have the GG open (for the tutorial), so that may have been something, and I am sure I was connected to the internet as well, and may have had a notepad open and Outlook Express as well, although I am sure I shut that. I did, however, make sure to start the game FIRST (as indicated in the "Tuning" section) and the other applications afterwards.
I notice no slowing in general with other applications when I have demanding things going on; I usually have iTunes open and listen to music when gaming (must ... hear ... music), or Pandora (streaming radio), but it is SPww2/mbt which bogs down, not the other apps.
thank you