I don't know if I was really able to make it quicker, but I definitely freed some RAM (there is only 128MB on the n810 so any 500k app is good to deactivate).

The first thing is to install sysv-rc-conf and disable as much services as possible, but remember, what I don't need could be very useful to you so be careful when you deactivate things.
for example, if you do not do some debug or are not on an island with nothing else to read, I think you can pretty safely disable all the log pregrams (bootlogd, klogd, ...), it didn't affect my debian at all. I also disabled avahi (I don't need to discover dudes to chat with or network printers when I a on a hotspot). If you don't know what a service is, don't disable it, check on the net (I always google in something like sysv-rc-conf <service name>) and if you think it is not needed, get rid of it.

The second thing I did loaded a little bit the RAM, but let you check its status and also the CPU, it is pretty similar to the applet qole put in his tarball for IceWM exept it's for XFCE, the name of the package is called "xfce4-systemload-plugin".

My third operation was to remove a bunch of stuff I didn't need on XFCE (splash screen, desktop management by XFCE (careful, it takes away the wallpaper and the icons), removed the theme and icon management packages (see http://www.xfce.org/documentation/4....ce4-components to know what component you need or not).

The fourth thing is more kind of an advice, use light, and if possible, terminal based programs, I do that on my laptop, and it is really nice because you think it doesn't make a difference to launch cmus (a really cool command line music player) instead of Rythmbox or amarok, but as I replaced as much as I could bulky, heavy programs with lightweight command line apps (or light x programs if you can't do otherwise), my desktop became much more efficient. On my core 2 duo laptop it was not really the power and load time (it still has an small impact), but more that you get yourself more effective. The reason is, you look for a program that suits you, learn its command (that's the tough par where you need to leave the mouse in the cage ), but then, you become really quick. So I guess it can't hurt the n810 and other IT if you use light programs either .

These are all advices from personal experience, some could be wrong so any comment would be appreciated to correct them.