vmware network is slow

[Fr33m4n]

I'm using vmware workstation v5.5 to test out some new application combinations. Right now I'm testing internet browser settings and as I was browsing around the web I noticed that I was getting extremly slow speeds. Dial-up like speeds really when my dsl connection is 400 kb/s. So I turned off every internet related app and was left with the browser alone but that did not do anything for the speed. I'm pretty sure the problem is with the virtual machine settings because browsing the local machine shared folders is as slow. I have tried changing the network settings from bridged to NAT but it has not helped. any help would be appriciated. thx in advance.