Slideshow software-which best to use?

Question

I will admit I posted this first on Final Cut Express as I wasn't sure where to post my question.  But, as I found other posts, many similar, but much older, posts (ie software options probably much different now) were posted on iDVD's forum... And, since that is where videos are generally sent for DVD encoding regardless of source software, I figured I should post here as well.
Any help is greatly appreciated!!!!
I want a software application that will create stunning slideshows (I intend to offer my services for slideshows and want to have a better than basic set of options).  I have Aperture, iMovie (of course), Keynote and iPhoto (of course) that can all do slideshows.  I have always used iMovie.  And, it provides great product.  But, I'd like to add a bit more to it.  I think animation is the correct term... I want to be able to have multiple photos on a page, each doing different things maybe (some of the themes on iDVD do this in the menu... having photos flow across the screen) or having photos stack on top of each other (Aperture has a theme that does this-- but then the whole project is that unless you piecemeal a slideshow into mini sections and then maybe add to iMovie, if that is even possible or even desirable if things won't look consistent).  I also like the ability to have a few photos on a screen shot and then zoom in on each photo individually and back out etc.-- zooming in or out with a twist is great too (meaning as you zoom in or out, the photo rotates).
Everywhere I have looked online, I seem to not be alone in finding software that can provide a bit more.  This is generally what I have found:
Final Cut Pro can probably do whatever I'd like (maybe plugins would be desired to get smoother/easier results), but it will probably be overqualified and pricy for my purposes ($300 + plugins).
Final Cut Express is no longer sold by Apple, but copies are available from other outlets.  I have heard mixed reviews on quality and have even heard that it still is not geared toward slideshows so it is not necessarily a smooth process. (and is still around $180), but plugins are available to add.
ProShow is a Windows based program that everone rants about.  But, it is a Windows platform-- which, I've read you can get Parallels software to load PC software onto the Mac.  Not really desirable for me.  There is a reason I abandoned the PC and I don't want to bring those troubles with me to my Mac.
There is a web-based version that lets you build slideshows online.  As far as I can tell, you can try it out... but, eventually you'd need to pay a yearly fee and not all features are available there (but there might be ways of adding features by paying for add-ons to your subscription-- haven't ventured there yet). $30/year or $150/year
I have a PC yet.  As it is quite a few years old, I don't know how sluggish it would be with such a program.  The program runs $70 or $250 depending on which level of software you get.  There are additional sets of themes for $20 a disk so that you can expand your program.  Portions of some of those themed disks are only applicable to the $250 program.NOTE: I had to use my PC recently as I had a program that would allow multiple camera angles on a single file to create a wedding video for my nephew.  Wishing iMovie would allow multiple camera files running side by side so you can choose which camera angle to view at different parts of the video time.
There are a couple Mac-based programs I have downloaded free demos of:  One of them is: Pulpmotion.
It seems to be the closest to what I want, but the themes seem a little cartoonish (the company has a Kidsmotion program which looks like a great option to let your kids get creative, but I don't see the adult Pulpmotion version to be that much more sophisticated in the themes.)  I am looking for elegant... with some fun themes.  There are a lot of themes, so maybe I just need to search for my favorites.  But, my gut says you would not want to do a wedding slideshow with this program, but would be great for a fun slideshow for kids or just a review of a year, or maybe a high school graduation growing up video.
It comes in two versions- Pulpmotion and Pulpmotion Advanced.  $50, $130
The second Mac-based program is Fantashow by Wondershare.  It appears to be a new program out there (version 1).  It is decent, but the music selection doesn't line up with photos.  You just drop the music lineup below all the photos.  And, as such, you have a hard time seeing where the you are in the timeline.  It has great potential as you can choose themes to use on batches of photos (ie have photos be pulled from a sphere for those five photos... and then build up six photos on top of each other, etc.) all in the same slideshow.  And it is only $50.
I have heard a lot of buzz on Fotomagico.  It has only a five-day trial period.  So, I have held off downloading until I know I have five days to devoting to testing it.   Rather frustrating as the two competitors above have 30 days I believe.  Just for that, I feel like boycotting it.  But, if I find it has what I need, what am I to do?  The examples they show online don't seem that spectacular other than the person who put the slideshow together did a great job .... but no appearance of animation or any unusual transitions, etc(ie, iMovie could probably produce the same result).  So, I am leary of even putting a lot of hope in that program.  It has a home version and a pro version.  $29 or $140
In regards to the programs I already own:
iMovie does an excellent job... and I could continue using this program and produce wonderful results, but I'd like to expand my options in regards to themes and capabilities to add a bit more artistic approach to it (without having to spend hours using multiple programs to make it happen).
Keynote, I have not tinkered a lot on... but, some of the features in regards to animation and some other effects seem quite nice.  But not sure how I could make it turn into a glamorous slideshow.  And, I'd have to figure out how to set the duration of each slide.  And, not sure if I can set more than one song to it... unless I export the slideshow sans music and add music in iMovie... but, then I'd need to monkey with length of time.. and I don't want to have to work back and forth in Keynote just to line up music and video.  I really want a software that I can stay in for the duration and then send to where I need to for encoding, if possible (I already do enough of the multi-application workflows, I don't want my slideshows to be that way too.)
iPhoto-- haven't tried.  But, assume it isn't going to be any more customizable than Aperture (which I will describe below).
Aperture seems to be a decent option... but, it is canned slideshow software.  There are ways to tweak things but it seems to be a workaround (ie, if you want less photos on a page, you can add text and it will split it up into two slides, etc.) but you can't seem to determine when it does switch animations (ie.  finishing one set of photo stacks and beginning a new one in the scrapbook theme)
So, I have, what I thin to be, a bunch of information above.  But, I haven't been able to find anything that has knocked my socks off.  So, I thought I'd ask you guys if you have experienced the pleasure of using any of the above softwares or, perhaps, different ones that will meet my needs (and hopefully not cost too much)  [too much for me would mean over $150, although, I'd prefer something under $80--but, if I am going to be discontent at $80-$150, I’d prefer to spend the little extra on a $180-$200 program]  You may know more about a software that I have that I was unaware of or could point me to a better direction.
Please provide any input you have.  I have obviously spent some time looking for something!
also... if you could identify the programs that do or do not "blur" (I think that is the term---- it is where when encoded, it does something to the files so that as the kens burns effect goes, it reduces the pixelation)
I basically want a good balance between presets (that are still classy) and the ability to tailor/adjust the presets as I see fit.

Answer 1

I admit that I have not had time to read your entire post, but this is how I suggest making slideshows:
There are many ways to produce slide shows using iPhoto, iMovie or iDVD and some limit the number of photos you can use (iDVD has a 99 chapter (slide) limitation).
If what you want is what I want, namely to be able to use high resolution photos (even 300 dpi tiff files), to pan and zoom individual photos, use a variety of transitions, to add and edit music or commentary, place text exactly where you want it, and to end up with a DVD that looks good on both your Mac and a TV - in other words end up with and end result that does not look like an old fashioned slide show from a projector - you may be interested in how I do it. You don't have to do it my way, but the following may be food for thought!
Firstly you need proper software to assemble the photos, decide on the duration of each, the transitions you want to use, and how to pan and zoom individual photos where required, and add proper titles. For this I use Photo to Movie. You can read about what it can do on their website:
http://www.lqgraphics.com/software/phototomovie.php
(Other users here use the alternative FotoMagico:  http://www.boinx.com/fotomagico/homevspro/ which you may prefer - I have no experience with it.)
Neither of these are freeware, but are worth the investment if you are going to do a lot of slide shows. Read about them in detail, then decide which one you feel is best suited to your needs.
Once you have timed and arranged and manipulated the photos to your liking in Photo to Movie, it exports the file to iMovie  as a DV stream. You can add music in Photo to Movie, but I prefer doing this in iMovie where it is easier to edit. You can now further edit the slide show in iMovie just as you would a movie, including adding other video clips, then send it to iDVD 7, or Toast,  for burning.
You will be pleasantly surprised at how professional the results can be!
To simply create a slide show in iDVD 7 onwards from images in iPhoto or stored in other places on your hard disk or a connected server, look here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1089