First, GREAT!!! 
QUOTE
I think being used to the MBP with its SSD has got me used to almost instant responses.
It is easy to fall into that trap... very easy and very fast! It had got to the point on my old iMac that I would simply not start Mail (with SpamSieve, included) and Safari at the same time. It was quite boring watching Mail's, Spamsieve's and Safari's icon bouncing on the bottom of the hidden Dock! :twiddle_fingers: 
Now if something bounces more than once, I suspect a problem!