Performance when connected to forums

In another test, once home I used an even older system slower than mine at work. Windows XP and Firefox 35 and other than a slight hesitation at logon, the response time was very good. So I am at a loss. Did some housekeeping on work system. Maybe I will just stay home.

Hello Hardhat,

As I have read this thread... I came to think about it that it could be possible that you have software firewalls or anti-virus running on your PC that you may want to try to disable. As well as closing other unnecessary software applications that opens up at startup and runs at the background. :D

It could also be some malware, so it is worth tracking down.

Thank you both. I did remove unused applications, didn't have any antivirus running, ran scandisk, defrag, disk cleanup, CCleaner and Malwarebytes Anti-malware set to check everything and came out clean. Ive disabled Firefox addins.
It took 22.15 sec. to login to the forum, continued a bit longer to return me to the forum screen.
23.35 sec. to get into the Feedback thread.
25.55 sec. to get into this Performance thread.
Its a mystery... I will research my firewall settings next.

Results of turning Windows XP Firewall OFF:
33.53 sec login screen to readynas index
37.98 sec to get to this thread "Performance..."

As an update for anyone who might take a stab at this.
What I believe it has boiled down to is Dell Latitude E5500 laptop's have something going on that is causing the drastic slow performance.
Dell desktops even older such as this Optiplex GX270 less performing system with same XP and Firefox and on same network out perform the laptop on the forum. I have tried two of the Latitudes just to be sure its not just mine, Ive tried wireless to our network, and while the Latitude performs very well IMO on everything else... it is not working on the Netgear forums. The speed is just to slow.
I have looked at a couple configs in the CMOS but haven't found a fix yet. I know this isn't the forum for Dell Support. But if anyone has knowledge I would appreciate it.

As maddening as it is, the same Latitude connected to web via WiFi to ATT Hotspot and therefor using ATT cellular gets lightning response times!Like the cell phone of course!
So it has something to do with what? The LAN card, Wireless LAN card, Router?