max2obj is a plugin for 3DS Max, you would still need Max to use it. Max files do not typically contain vertex information, like other formats do (although they can) It usually contains the formula if you will, of how a model was made, and it more or less recreates that model using the saved "recipe" every time you load a max file. Hence the reason why a super smoothed model saved in 3DS format weighs 50 megs when the same model saved as max is a few kB. The max file just says "smooth 3 times". Same thing when you clone objects in Max, the Max file just says "Clone it, put it here and scale it this way", a 3DS file will write every single last vertex, normal etc... I really don't know of any soft that will convert .max to anything, other than 3DS Max itself.