PSE9, CS5 or Lightroom?

Question

Need several recommendations.
My family photo collection currently exceeds 17,000 images. These are images from before 1880 to current day. Currently have about 6,000 images digitized; had more but that’s another story. I’m evolving my methods and hardware as I learn and can afford (and when the wife’s not looking).
I am using a Pentium 4 box running Win2k, so I’m at a dead end there. Long past time to upgrade both the hardware and software. We keep our cars ‘til the wheels fall off too.
She and I are willing to spend a few bucks, but we want value. Not salesman hype. I’m looking at Intel i7 series class machines with a choice of (3) Windows 7 systems. 64 bit CPUs and software are the way to go, I think. But is either PSE9 or CS5 ever going to take advantage of the hyperthreading? I understand CS5 reverts to 32 bit processing and 8-bit color depth at times. But I get ahead of myself.
First, my current workflow (subject to change).
A. Scan tintypes, prints, negatives, and/or slides using an HP4890 flatbed or Nikon Coolscan V film scanner as appropriate.
B1. Import images into PSE2 and save in tif format. (PSE2 puts limits on file size (about 350MB) and bit depth (won’t recognize 14 bit depth scans).)
B2. Import digital images from digital cameras owned by others (rarely anything but jpgs, never saw a RAW file).
C. Using PS Album, edit only creation date and caption. Save copies to DVDs.
D. Batch create psd files from the tifs and edit/restore/annotate as needed. Copy and store off-line with the tifs.
E. Batch create lower res (2000x?) jpgs for distribution to family and friends.
F. Create hard copy photo albums or slide shows for family and friends. Share images with family as requested.
My scanners both can deliver more than I can use at present. I’m working on a network storage solution that will relieve my anxiety about losing more images. So that brings us to software.
Question #1. Does either PSE9 or CS5 impose limits on file size or bit depth? I want to maximize my scanners abilities.
Question #2. After editing metadata in the tif format, will it follow conversion to psd and subsequently jpg or be wasted? PS Album stored tags in a psa file and didn’t update the metadata in the file. Maybe I should just edit metadata in the psd??
Question #3. Given a budget of $2-2.5k, which way would you go to buy a desktop and either PSE9 or CS5? Is Lightroom a better solution?
Question #4. Which OS is better suited? Win7 Home, Win7 Pro or Win7 Ultimate?
Question #5 Is my workflow sound, or do I need to change/re-sequence it?
Thanks, appreciate any/all feedback!

Answer 1

I understand CS5 reverts to 32 bit processing and 8-bit color depth at times.
As far as I know, this is a false statement.
Question #1. Does either PSE9 or CS5 impose limits on file size or bit depth? I want to maximize my scanners abilities.
I'm quite sure there are no limits on file size in either software. PSE9 does have a limit on the number of pixels in an image.
Question #2. After editing metadata in the tif format, will it follow conversion to psd and subsequently jpg or be wasted? PS Album stored tags in a psa file and didn’t update the metadata in the file. Maybe I should just edit metadata in the psd??
PSE works the same, your metadata is stored in a catalog file. The metadata can be written to the photo files themselves (although that is somewhat buggy in PSE).
Question #3. Given a budget of $2-2.5k, which way would you go to buy a desktop and either PSE9 or CS5? Is Lightroom a better solution?
Based on what you have said, you haven't given a reason to purchase CS5. You may have valid reasons to purchase CS5, but you haven't stated them here.
Your needs seems to be primarily organizing and cataloging and converting to other formats, in which case I recommend Lightroom, which is my preferred software for this type of work. It is less buggy than the PSE Organizer, and I like the interface better (although other people don't). CS5 doesn't do "organizing and cataloging".
Question #4. Which OS is better suited? Win7 Home, Win7 Pro or Win7 Ultimate?
There really isn't a difference for this type of work
Question #5 Is my workflow sound, or do I need to change/re-sequence it?
I would stop using Photoshop Album immediately, as converting your work from PSA to either PSE9 or Lightroom has been problematical for some. We can help if needed. Regarding step B1, its not clear to me why you need to change to TIF from whatever came out of the scanner. My guess is you don't need this step at all. I don't see any point to the part of step D that converts the file format to PSD, its just extra work that adds no benefit, as far as I can see. Regarding Step E and F, consider a web sharing site like Flickr or SmugMug, its a whole lot easier uploading photos once instead of sending e-mails with photos or making CD/DVDs/photo albums for people.