Considering EAC uses so much error checking, slow ripping speed etc. is it ok for me to do general non-intensive computing like email/web browsing while a CD is ripped by EAC/LAME...? I imagine it is ok... I just don't want to find out I have clicking or popping in my MP3s because of it...

I have always run other jobs when EAC/LAME are running. It has never been a problem. You could, of course, test it on your system, check with the various sites supporting EAC and also with the support group on Yahoo.

No Problems so far in having it run in the background while doing some writing/browsing... I am not sure what will happen in the cases my WordProcessingProgram/GeoStatistical Tool/Browser/PaintProgram may occupy all cpu power - but even then I would speculate that it would make no difference (for short time peaks) - but maybe I am easily proven wrong as I am only speaking by previous experiences and based on my hearing of the resulting mp3...