Update your Photoshop for starters.

You can also use ACDSee with its batch plugin.

You can also use DeBabelizer.

ACDSee is probably the cheapest option. Though you may be able to get a low-priced upgrade to your Photoshop. Even if you don't have the Automate command, you do have Actions in all versions of 5 I believe. You can make an action for any common tasks you need to perform. That will save a lot of time on its own. Of course the batch abilities give you unmatched speed.

Bruno