Quote Originally Posted by Mick64 View Post
What do you hate about it? I've found SketchUp to one of the easiest modeling programs to use. I know it's a bit quirky, but once you've get a grasp the basic techniques, you'd be surprised how quick you can knock up a simple design...
I hate that the learning curve is really weird. I'm fine with super complex programs such as After Effects, Photoshop, and Premier (yes I realize they are all adobe, but I bought the cs3 master collection with no experience and I have figured out basically everything in them) but when it comes to simple looking UI's with weird settings, it bugs the crap out of me.

So I've been searching the web, and I've found a few programs i'd like you all to rate as far as powerfulness and ease of use. Cost is not a problem.

3D modeing:
Softimage XSI
3DS Max
Maya
Lightwave
Inventor 2009

Renderers:
Maxwell
VRay
Mental Ray
Kerkythea

@Metric: 4870x2 coming soon???