Thanks for the above posts.
I don't find it slow in opening even having zapped the files in Task manager. I'll run a comparison over the next couple of days. As mentioned, one of them is rather large just to have sitting there - I only have 1.5 gig memory.
Now I'm uncertain which way to go. It does seem that looking at the other route in the fork might be time well spent.
Having been wearing Word Perfect 8 like a comfy old cardigan, for so many years, I did notice a few similarities in OO. What I really need is another comfy old cardigan, but one that doesn't need Task manager to shut it down. (the only grumble I can find on W7- Vista, it shuts down okay.)