Wow Thankyou all for your replies many more than I expected.

And basicwiz I was also a member of the point and click society for many years as well. Until I got bagginsbill's vss and started playing around with that. which got my interest going for much improved renders. But due to working way out beyond the black stump (any aussie can tell you where that is) with very limited net service havn't had a chance to post anything. But the thought of the GC sounds very interesting. And there is always a chance in the future of getting a 64 bit machine (dreaming lol) .

Thanks BB for all the extra imput I do like to get some realism into what I and you have given me more thought to process. looks like

I think I will be going with PP2010 from what I have read so far.  Also the texture problem to Mentalray was that the render issue and only through Maya or does 3DMax suffer as well. As I was thinking of that being my next purchase.  (tax refund time is soooo good lol)

Once again thanks to everyone for their input it is very much appreaciated by myself.

Trix.