Forums | MacLife

If you're really serious about photo management, then try iView Media or MediaPro, http://www.iview-multimedia.com/index.html.  Media can handle 32,000 files (photo, music, pdf, text, movie) and MediaPro 128,000.  It is BLAZINGLY fast and can do everything iPhoto can do except create books and interface seamlessly with the other iApps.  You create your own filing system which the application does not screw up.  I use it exclusively except for creating book which I use iPhoto (that's one capability that rocks!)

Although I'm a big proponent of iView, my experience with iPhoto has been nothing but good.  I have 5 libraries, ranging in size from 500 to 3200 images and have had no problem.  It is a tad slow opening up the current, 3200, library but I have the rolls closed, drop shadow turned off and the libraries located on a second internal HD.  (8 seconds from click to fully open with my configuration)

I do a lot of posting at the Apple discussion forums and read a lot of tales of woe on those who have lost libraries, sloooooow operation, etc.  That's why I recommend iView so much.  Once Apple industrializes iPhoto and adds a whole lot more security and reliability to the library files it will be a truly great app.  In the meantime, ..... iView.