Hi, Doubtless somebody else has already told you this, but a "real"3D package will cost you much more than poser. Then you'll need the plugins to do character animation, etc. and then, if you have neither the talent nor the time, you'll need to buy the models, some of which will cost you a lot more than the software... I started out with a pirate copy of poser, but only after I went through every shop in the computer section (in Munich) only to find that you couldn't buy it any more. The first model I bought was Thorne's "Nikki" (here, at the store) and slowly I graduated to Vicky, etc. all of which I paid for, because I could. Then finally I bought a "real" copy of poser, because I was again able to order it. (Not bad really, scoring an English version in Germany :) Though I must say that $215 is cheap, I paid 660DM for mine. Around 220 UK pounds, or $330, I was happy to pay it as I knew what I was getting for my money, and they even throw in the mac version for good measure. This is mostly a hobbyists market, because nobody is going to employ you if all you know how to do is poser. you don't have to use poser, and if you actually had a lot of talent you wouldn't need to bitch about the price of the models, you'd learn to make them yourself, and then you too could sell them in the store. Where people point guns at your head and force you to buy "bad textures" for $20 I recently paid more then $20 for a texture, (completely of my own volition, honest! :) and I for one am more than happy with my purchases. later jb