Don't know where to post this
 

I know this doesn't exactly fit in this catagory, but I didn't know where else to ask this so...
Anyone out there using 3D programs like 3Ds Max or Lightwave? I was wondering what my options were for the Mac and what seems to be the best overall program considering price to performace with a learning curve that won't overwhelm a beginner.
There's my shot in the dark.

Since we don't have 3d forum I suppose this as as good a place as any. No experience with either 3DS or Maya... have thought about learning them but it's so expensive and time consuming.... Have been doing 3d modeling on the Mac forever though (believe it or not, there were some programs that ran on the Mac Plus!). Back in 1995 I got Strata Studio Pro because it was the most powerful package available at the time, and have stuck with it because I know all the tricks (and bugs) and can usually make it do what I want. Now it's called Strata 3d CX (I'm still one version behind that):

http://strata.com/products.asp

Have done some animation with it (including quite a bit that was projected on a 44 foot wide screen in one of our operas), but my main experience has been using it for my design work:

http://tech.operaphilly.com/sets/werther/sketch/
http://tech.operaphilly.com/sets/capuleti/sketch/
http://tech.operaphilly.com/sets/perichole/sketch/
http://tech.operaphilly.com/sets/figaro/model/

I have also used Bryce a lot; it's a great deal and a fun program to work with if you want to do landscapes. I have often combined these with my Strata models when I need backdrops:

http://www.daz3d.com/program/bryce/55index.php

Recently I've been working with e-on Software's Vue 5 Infinite, and it's a truly amazing package - like Bryce on steroids. It is also heavily slanted towards landscapes and nature although it could be used for anything. But it has a phenomenal feature called "ecosystems" which lets you very easily create complex environments with billions of polygons - like a forest with millions of trees, or a city with thousands of buildings. I don't think anyone else has something like this:

http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products...ue_5_infinite/

They also make plug-ins/add-ons for packages like Maya 3DS, Cinema 4D and Lightwave, as well as a less expensive version of Vue without the ecosystems.

There are a LOT of other programs too, and you need to invest some time to learn how to use any of them. But these are the ones I use....

3ds Max
 

I don't have much to add because I am trying to figure out which program is the best to get started with myself, but isn't 3ds Max a PC only program?