slow reaction time

When using the internet and email, the reaction time of the computer is extremely slow.
First, getting the internet to come up is very slow and then suggesting any commands when the internet is up is still very slow. Such as closing out a window with the use of "x" in the upper right corner or even the minimizer become very slow when used. Sometimes when typing email, the leters and words will not show up on the screen until about 1 or 2 minutes after it has been actually typed in. On email, it takes extremely long to send a message or pop up an empty window for a compose command. Generally any command has a slow reaction time. At times frequently the server is lost and we have to reconnect to the internet again. I try to delete history files, cookies, etc. using the "tools"/ delete history which helps but it does not solve the problem it still exists. We recently had our computer switched to Verizon by way of the telephone line. Yet, it is DSL not dial up, its just that it is not directly hooked up through a cable like before with charter network.

Paul Lupica