Aperture 3.02 Export Rate

Question

Wow! Where do I begin with this? Exporting images from Aperture is so excruciatingly slow, it is really impeding my work flow. Exporting an image to jpeg at 50% takes approximately 4:45 if done in a batch. If done individually, it takes 3:45.
I tried a lower resolution (1024 X 1024), the export time is still 3:45. As I'm working on a project, I have 23 images to export. I calculated it would take over 86 minutes to export them to my desktop. My gosh, this is utterly frustrating. I used to be able to export images out of Aperture 2 in a rush to get things done.
Does anyone know any fixes to this? It seems to have worsen over time. This is the first Apple application that has caused me to question if they're losing their touch.
By the way, uploading images via the Aperture Facebook Uploader is even worse. I've given up on that. Uploading an album with about 24 images takes over 90 minutes. And clearly, exporting them first doesn't help, since Aperture's export function is clearly not helpful. Getting images to print for customers and clients has turned into a lengthy process.
Anyone else is having this trouble and if so, what have you done to handle it?

Answer 1

AN UPDATE: I've spent the past hour or so exporting in 50% of original (jpeg). My original estimate of 3 minutes and 45 seconds per photo did not take into consideration other processes running on my machine. So, apparently the export function slows down even further when MobileMe is synchronizing or when Time Machine is backing up. So it seems that almost one hour into my export, only 11 of 23 images actually exported.
This is incredulous. Definitely to first Apple application that I feel actually decreased my productivity. I surely hope they fix this soon.