3DS MAX 9 or 3DS MAX 2008? which one?

I need help deciding which version is newer and which is right for me...

from WinCustomize Forums
hello everyone!
i was wondering... is 3ds max 9 or 3ds max 2008 better? which one is newer? if someone could help me, i'd really appreciate it
-mahdimc
3,079 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
"SAN DIEGO, Aug. 6, 2007 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced Autodesk 3ds Max 2008 software, the latest version of its out-of-the-box solution for 3D modeling, animation and rendering."

Source: WWW Link

As far as better:

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=7658360WWW Link

Those are the new features. You can decide if they are better.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you guys use these programs for something other than creating dreams? It seems an awful lot of $ to invest simply for a hobby. Are there other (cheaper) programs that do the same thing & create simular results??
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Blender is a free 3D studio, but is a little complicated.