Google Maps was one of the most useful and clever applications on the Internets.  I have noticed that searching for a map is slow from multiple computers for the last few months.  I gave up on my most recent search for a large city, state after waiting for minutes each time.   I just used a different map application for the first time in 4 years.  I will continue to use your competitor's clunky map interface until google maps improves its performance.  I hope you guys will fix it. 

This time I was on Windows Vista Home Premium edition running Firefox 3.0.1.0.  Scripts are enabled on maps.google.com (I run NoScript).  Cookies were just deleted and I was logged out of my google account.  I'm surprised that your testers aren't seeing it.