Or get a faster computer. How old is your current one?

I believe you might mean NEF files. CS2 imports them so I assume later versions do also. I haven't used CS3 or 4 but in general I'm not too impressed with PS' sharpening capabilities: I have Corel PhotoPaint and think it does a better job than my PS CS2 . I hear that they have a new sharpening function (CS3+) that's better, though.

Someone else needs to chime in on Lightroom ..

G