Most systems are slow, for given definitions of slow. Definitions of slow also have a habit of morphing over the years, so that the 'blazingly fast' cpu of 1999 magically becomes 'slow as a dog' by 2005. It should be called Moore's Treadmill, and it should've been smashed to small pieces ten years ago. I'm getting off.
http://suckless.org (all their products run great on my 233 mhz G3 mac)