I have both Vue d'Esprit 3.1 and Bryce 4. I like both programs. At the present Bryce 4 has the advantage over Vue 3.1 on volumetric textures, caustics, and some transparency funtions. Vue 3.1 takes the edge on trees, vegetation, natural lighting, and soft shadows. Vue 4 has corrected almost all of the disadvantages it had in comparison to Bryce 4. I read here that Vue does not do indoor scenes well. I would strongly disagree on that one. Just spend some time on looking at some of the work that others have posted here and other sites on the web and I am sure you will agree. As to Vue's trees and vegetation. To those of you that do not have the program, Vue actually grows the plants so to speak. If you click to generate a lets say a pear tree, you will not get the same tree several times, but several different versions of the same species of tree. It is very easy to edit the trees appearance, leaves, trunks etc. This is the one area where Vue realy socks it to Bryce 4. I get the impression that Bryce 5 will address this problem. As to which to buy if you could only have one, I would say wait to see what Bryce 5 will have when it is finally released, then look at what is being posted here to assist in your final choice on which to buy. Both are great programs and I will most likely continue to use them both. Happy rendering!