Best 3D program

Okay, I was going to get 3Ds Max ...but my trusty soft ware shop closed down, , But anywho I have found a shop that sells all 3D software , and at educational prices (so pricing isn't an issue ) we are going to get a new computer (in about a month, YAY!!! ) So which 3D program is the best for non-arty begginer people...

(I can't demo any, since it take 48 hours to download 300MB:embrsd: ... seriously, I've done it before, And on Dial Up too!!!

The following programs got reccomended

3Ds Max
Maya
Cinema 4D
Light Wave

and then every one was raving about Zbrush, but that is way to art-tastic for me,

So any suggestions...?

Maya and Genesis3D are both very good and the best part is that they are both free ^^
http://www.Genesis3d.com

3DS Max is probably the most comprehensive of all those programs, although it and Maya probably have the most game-oriented features of all those listed. Lightwave is much more of a scene-creator, so I guess it depends on what you're trying to do.

I personally like Maya the best because of the Hotbox and the Alt-click camera control, it makes modelling a much more fluid experience. I also find it far less buggy than Lightwave and Studio Max. Of course, it's been a while since I've used those programs, they might have fixed those bugs by now. Either way Maya is a sweet app, and you can download a personal edition for free on their website. At first it's quite challenging to get used to how it all works, but once you get used to the fundamentals, it's one of the most if not the most powerful 3d program out there.

I would suggest (just like with any complex new software) that you get a book or take a course on how to use it. It's easy to get discouraged if you try to tackle it on your own.

3ds Max and Maya are the best out there.

I, personally, recommend 3ds Max for the majority of 3D work. It's what I use most. However, if you are just starting out, I suggest Cinema 4D or LightWave, as they are very easy to pick up compared to Max or Maya. Then when you have learnt the fundamentals of 3D art, you can move up to the more complex - yet ultimately more satisfying - high-end products. Either way, oriented toward beginners as they are, LightWave and Cinema 4D are still extremely powerful programs on their own, and many professionals stick with them as it is. It's up to you, really.

Thanks everybody!
We have 3Ds max at school, (but we don't get taught it because they think it is too hard, me and my friend were so anoyed when we found that out, even though we find it relitively easy...*snivel*) Thanks for the recomendations. I was going to go with maya, but I made a mistake, the shop only sells maya plug-ins, not the actual program, (I don't get it either, weird...?) Anywho, I've gone with 3Ds max, (partly cause I don't want to learn 2 and it does an all round thingo, (I've read most of the reveiws, and it definatly gets the best right up) Infact it's just come in the post today, but

DOES ANY BODY KNOW WHAT AN ACTIVATION CODE IS????

I can't find it anywhere on the box AT ALL, I think i have puched in atleast 15 difrent numbers, *sigh* can someone please help me out!?
*sigh*
Thank you every body...

www.serials.ws try there

Which is the best one if you want to get into game design? I was thinking of using Animation master, since it is cheap and supposed to be quite easy to learn (for a 3d program.) I want something that should be affordable, and easyish to learn.

For game design it's a toss-up between 3D Studio and Maya. Of course the price for the full packages puts a lot of people off... though demos are easy enough to come by.

It's not a good mindset to get into though: Ultimately what you're looking for is a grasp of 3D design, modelling and rendering. If you spend a lot of time learning just 3D Studio or Maya you'll find yourself ill-equipped for most positions in the industry by clinging to one little corner. And you'll find that a lot of veterans of the industry have their own fringe tools that enable them to best apply their universal knowledge, rather than app-specific skills.

With that in mind, give Wings 3D a shot. I know a lot of people that swear by Mirai, and most endorse Wings 3D as a decent free alternative; it's a pretty slick subsurface modeller. Combine that with Blender and you've got some pretty powerful tools that are totally free. I still find Blender a lot less painful than Lightwave.

My personal favorite 3D app is actually Cinema 4D, mainly because it's incredibly easy to use while still being quite powerful.