Why does PoE take so long to start?

Logs below...

2013/03/17 21:56:59 ***** LOG FILE OPENING *****
2013/03/17 21:56:59 446368734 107 [INFO Client 4920] Send protocol version
2013/03/17 21:56:59 446368781 16b [INFO Client 4920] Web root: http://patchcdn.pathofexile.com/0.10.3.4/
2013/03/17 21:56:59 446368781 16c [INFO Client 4920] Backup Web root: http://patch215.pathofexile.com:8095/patch/0.10.3.4/
2013/03/17 21:56:59 446368781 177 [INFO Client 4920] Requesting root contents 1
2013/03/17 21:56:59 446368843 19f [INFO Client 4920] Got file list for "" 0
2013/03/17 21:57:01 446370140 1fc [INFO Client 4920] Finished checking files
2013/03/17 21:57:01 446370937 2e [INFO Client 4920] OpenAL device is "Generic Software on Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)"
2013/03/17 22:08:49 447078593 44a [DEBUG Client 4920] Got Instance Details from login server
2013/03/17 22:08:49 447078671 456 [INFO Client 4920] Just before calling client instance session
2013/03/17 22:08:49 447078671 6c [INFO Client 4920] Connecting to instance server at 173.192.25.26:52127
--------------------------------------------
2013/03/17 22:10:17 447167062 4d [INFO Client 4920] Tile hash: 3003813648
2013/03/17 22:10:17 447167062 4e [INFO Client 4920] Doodad hash: 0
2013/03/17 22:10:46 447195984 1af [INFO Client 4920] : You have entered the Sarn Encampment

That's over ten minutes from launch to login screen... Any ideas why? Thanks,

It seems to freeze when checking your sound card, so as a wild stab in the dark I'd update your sound card drivers if you haven't already.

I have slow loading time too (drivers are up-to-date). I usually find that its REALLY slow to start initially so i tend to close the client (whilst its been on the loading screen for a few minutes) and then re-open it and it loads much faster second time.