Opera Browser Slow To Open in Linux Mint 18.3

When I initially open my Opera browser on my Linux Mint 18.3 laptop, there's a delay of several seconds before the browser opens full screen.

I have, in separate instances, installed the Software Manager version of Opera AND the Opera website's version of Opera, and the delay continues to persist.

My questions are:

• 1) Should I be using the Software Manager's version of Opera or the Opera website's version?
  2) How do I distinguish which version of Opera I am currently running?
  3) Finally, how do I eliminate the lag when initially opening the Opera browser.

Thanks, guys, and please go easy on me. I'm a neophyte from with the terminal window.