I've found 3DS files don't work as good as .obj files. There are some free converters out there so you don't need to purchase MAX to use the 3DS format. the .max file format is proprietary and pretty much only MAX can use this format, which is why you see so many files exported in 3DS format and not .max format... Look in the 3D Studio MAX forum here, there's a whole section for using Poser with MAX and tools to use the programs together. Maybe you will find better answers in the poser/max faq section.