On different network, X programs start very slow

My notebook is on a different network than usual and I've changed th=

e IP=20
address, etc in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 accordingly (se=
e=20
below) as well as the nameserver entry in /etc/resolv.conf (also below). =
Now,=20
when I launch any X-based program, it takes several seconds longer (8+?) =
than=20
usual to get going. During the delay there is no appreciable CPU, disk or=
=20
network usage. The system just seems to be waiting. I suspect some socket=
=20
connection is being attempted and then timing out but darned if I can fig=
ure=20
out what I've missed in the changes. Any ideas?
     Kernel is 2.4.18
     Distribution is Red Hat 8.0
     I can surf the net Okay (so the route is working and I'm talking to =
their=20
DNS).
     There are two lines in /etc/resolv.conf but I hand-edited the second=
 one=20
for this network (as per their admin's instruction):

; generated by /sbin/dhclient-script
nameserver 192.168.1.250

     And here is my current /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0:

# Please read /usr/share/doc/initscripts-*/sysconfig.txt
# for the documentation of these parameters.
USERCTL=3Dno
PEERDNS=3Dyes
TYPE=3DEthernet
DEVICE=3Deth0
HWADDR=3D00:e0:98:87:74:0d
ONBOOT=3Dyes
# BOOTPROTO=3Ddhcp
BOOTPROTO=3Dnone
IPADDR=3D192.168.1.232
NETMASK=3D255.255.255.0
GATEWAY=3D192.168.1.254
NETWORK=3D192.168.1.0
BROADCAST=3D192.168.1.255

     Suggestions would be most welcome. TIA ("shay-shay", in Chinese)