Buying 3d Applications for persnal use

[Ferocious Simplicity]

Ive found with some students that brought the student version of 3DS Max that when the licence ran out they actually rang autodesk about renewing for a preminate licenece but getting it at a lower rate due to the fact they already own a copy. A sneaky way around paying full price and it dosnt always work. But it dosnt hurt to ask really. I tried on my 2 year student version and I got shot down when I asked but its always worth a try.

[MaccaAko]

All depends on what you want to do, if your into Architectural Visualisation then 3ds max might be the software for you, but if you want to do something else I wouldn't really bet on 3ds max, there is no way to tell what AutoDesk will do with their 3ds max and 3ds max Design, nor do they seem to develop it to any big extent. Or what about, we need to develop 3Ds max:

"Let's implement the ViewCube and why not split the software into two just to make our customers really happy, both have the same features except 1 and you can't have both installed on the computer, harr harr".

There are so many other applications that does other stuff better.

If your company subscribes to AutoDesk products your entitled to 1x "Home Usage licenses"/ product, but of course it is your Contract manager/ software coordinators that can request the licenses for you. Really nice feature.

Even though I am no 3Ds Max specialist nor in the buisness I disagree with Sandy in that you need to learn the specific tool. Of course it is good to know the specific tool that an employer have, but if your good with one tool, then your good with other tools or will be in a short time. The difference between tools are in your head. If you can make good "art", the way you do it isn't critical (if your not 70years and waiting for death and don't fell like learning anything new)...

But, as said I am not in the "game/tv/visualisation" buisness so the above states only my opinion. At least it works like that in other fields (engineering, programming and the fields I work in) so I can't see that it would be critical for this. You will anyway not know how the company works as every company has their own setup/way of working and even every office if the management haven't been abled to implement a common WoW (huh).

/Macca

[sbcarshops]

I know through my university i can buy a student 1 year student license for $400 USD, the Legacy version for $600 USD. (Which seems awfully high after seeing some information presented earlier in this thread.) These are cheaper than the main $4000 price of max from Autodesk, but I wonder what the limitations are.

I was assured the student version was akin to the full blown version, as in all the features were there. It could not be explained about the rendering qualities. For Example all the 'Student Versions' Ive seen either have some Obtrusive watermark over the image, or on a printout (i.e With AutoCAD) saying "this is from a student Version" or some pop up like in Inventor saying its from a Student Version. I know for Maya there is a free trial version out there, but it uses a different file format than the real version, which for me If i were to do work in the trial version at home, i would not be able to take it to class, or turn it into my professor who has the real version as that file will not be recognized by the real version. Trying to find all this out before I buy a Student Legacy Version is paramount for me. I know with AutoCAD and some of the markings its left I cant really use some of their images for my portfolio as it doesn't look professional enough to me. Not to mention any work I have done in class on a real version has had some implication of opening up at home in a student version.

Anyhow if I can find a student version that doesn't leave those watermarks Ill be set. Its always nice to have a copy when the lab on campus is rarely ever open.

[N1ghteyes]

Thank you for all your comments.

At the moment I kind of have my eye on xsi student copy £170 for perement lisence. Also they say there are no limitations to that product comared with that of the normal advanced version of xsi. i.e. no watermarks, dodgy file formats etc.

I am kind of worried that with autodesk taking over softimage that this seemingly great offer will be removed before I get it because really I have no need to buy any 3D app for at least 3 months (trial of 3D max, maya and xsi 1 month each)

I found a good comparitive review for all the apps at:

TDT3D - 3D softwares comparisons table

which seemed to be quite impartial. Interestingly it rated 3D max biggest problem as the price :S

Also I think xsi seems to be a nice comprisms between Macca and Sandmannija's comments.

I myself am about to qualify as an engineer and totally agree with macca's comments about application training in engineering not really mattering. But I have no knowlage of the 3D industy. As such xsi seems to be the application used alot in next gen games with also some exposure in films as well.

Also I like the interface and ice

Finally I have been thinking about my question regarding the use of 3D-palaces 3D-max tutorials in other applications and have decided that after doing all the free tutorials on xsi here that the commercial sets will be very helpfull in understanding work flow and 3D thinking.

So again thank you for all your comments and keep them coming.

Regards

Nighteyes

p.s. I intend to use theses 3D apps for none engineering uses such as making cool movies and hopefully in the end switching jobs....