Same way you pay for anything you need to do business. Work for it!

It's not like Photoshop and Flash are cheap eaither, you buy what you need to use. When i started, I did web work and programming for the first year and socked away the bread until it was enough to buy 3DS MAX 1.2, back in the late 90's.

Photoshop came with my scanner, Flash was only $199, and I picked up a cheap copy of FrontPage to start.

Welcome to TS, jugganaught.  You're right, it is expensive... and even more so if you also buy a subscription.  If you're a student - secondary or college - you can buy it at a whopping discount (under $1000 US) from any number of studentware sites.  You can also download gmax here at TurboSquid for free.  Gmax is actually an earlier version of max... version 4, I believe.  It's fully functional except for the fact that you cannot render from it (though I believe there's a third-party app that will allow you to).  Gmax was intended for use by gamers to make their own characters, props, etc.  It obviously doesn't have all the bells and whistles that later versions of max have, but it's a terrific way to begin learning to use max while you're saving up to purchase it.

It's a hard price to pay at first.  But think of all the money you will make with it.  When you do jump to full license, get the subscription too.  I really like the pay one price a year and forget about it.  A couple times a year you get surprises in the mail from Autodesk, plus the free support and training material.  It works great for me.

Well you can do what I did, I got a part time extra job washing dishes in a local restaurant, I must have washed 3 million dishes, before I had enough money to pay for 3dsMax 9. I also purchased Maxon Cinema 4D, Lightwave 9,ZBrush 3.0 PhotoShop Suite etc, ect, I guess Iam like a kid in a toy store wanting everything I see. And this is the kicker I have free software like Blender 2.45, Wings, Animor8, which I use more often.LOL.

 

$2,184.00 you can find cheaper verision of max on ebay, Ebay is doing 3ds max 2008 $899.00. 3ds Max 5 SOFTWARE bid is at $102.50 

If you not sure you want to become a pro then i would download gmax off this site it's the same as max but it's free it does not have no render engine!

http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Midget where did you go to college for it, ive been looking for a digital media college otherwise its a toss up between drexel and the arts institute of philadelphia

Hey Bruce and Tim long time no hear I have been away for a bit busy with some other stuff, and for some reason had a problem with my 2008 disk so they had to replace it for me and boy it was tough to get the replacement, Between my Tech from Dell and Autodeska tech they figured out it was the disk that had been messing up. So I should be recieving the new on by FedEx soon. But other then that so I see you guys are still have people who are trying to make the choice. In my opinion I would just go to Autodesk and download the trial then test drive it, who knows it might not be you, if it is something you like get enrolled in school that is the cheapest way to go don't even bother to think about the classes think of them as a perk because you will be learning from trained professionals and they will see you get on your way. Other then that what ever the guys here at the squid tell you it is priceless information because usually when some one has a problem it's like ants at a picnic theey all want to help so you would have a good start. Thats all have a good one. Oh Bruce and Tim I will catch you guys latter. Eddie