Originally Posted by burkey_turkey

seeing as you are:

1) a student likely to use 3d modeling in your future
2) a current inventor user
3) considering a switch at such an impresionable time in your life

im sure solidworks would love to convert you. to them, a free copy now while a student just makes you dependent on them so that by the time youre out of college you need to buy their next edition (what number are they on now? 7?) which will cost tons of money. they profit by giving you cheap software, so go for it. just explain the circumstances and ask for an educational copy or a regular copy.