I have been using OE6 for a long time. My address book is large as I keep
business contacts there.

Within the last couple of months, it began to take a good 20-25 seconds just
to open the address book, and another 20-25 to add an entry. I'll never
finish my work this way!

I've tried turning off auto-complete which was suggested in other threads.
I don't have any spyware as mentioned elsewhere, but do use Bitdefender.

Is there any hope of speeding this up, or is this just what happens with a
large address book? If so, what email program would anyone suggest?

Thanks!