Chipp,
[quoteJust wondering, can your Max program really render multiple trillion polygon scenes, with radiosity, full spectral skys, infinite procedural terrains with millions of unique plants and combined wind effects, in 5 minutes? If so, then I have no idea why you would be in this forum. If not, then you're not comparing apples to apples.

Nice....

I am here to learn about Vue and xStream from people that use it already.
I use Max for it's stability and performance. It works, day in, day out. (Using max 2009 now, Max 2010 is on the shelf waiting for SP1 to be released). Max 2008 was garbage. Crashed all the time. Max 9 was great. I own C4d but dont use it.

**Software is a tool, not a religion.
**
Max cannot do what you have described which is another reason why I am here.
If it means that to get what you have described, I have to endure instability or long render times then Vue is not for me. My industry and clients won't tollerate it. You can make all the excuses you want for a software (rhetorical btw). I just want relaibility, stability and relatively good speed.
Max is not the end all, be all product. Only a fool would make such a claim. It does most of what I need it to do, has a tremendous amount of plugins available for it and has boosted my company's abilities and avenues.
My hope is (and I really hope it is) would be that xStream can be another major boost.

Too bad any comment less than "singing the praises of Vue"  is considered full of vile and contempt. They really arent intended as jabs

If I were in your position I would probably defend the company I sell add ons for too.
That is not a slam in any way shape or form. I am saying I would do it too.
Hopefully it wouldnt be with the same tenacity, but then I have not walked in your shoes.

Relax a little, I am not here to offend you..

David