What program is really recomanded?

[Molten]

Ok, I'll spell out the sides of the war from a mostly impartial view.

AutoCAD is old school. It's a classic. Most of your older companies use this in some form even if it isn't their main software. Also, it is used for many different things other then mechanics (example: civil engineering)

ProE is raw power. You can do stress analysis, aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and just about anything else you can think of. Many companies use this powerhouse to test out a product before it is built.

Inventor is simple. It allows you to start quick and then learn the more advanced tools after your already started. It does have a good amount of power at a fair price. It's ok that not many companies use it because you can adapt to new softwares quickly after knowing one.

Solidworks is unique. It does most of what the others can do with a different type of setup. This setup allows some people to pick it up quicker then others while others struggle. It has just about all the power of ProE. Many companies use this program and the fact that it is unique makes it a good thing to know because it is harder to adapt to.

Sorry, if I put in any biases. I tried to keep as indifferent as possible. Please, no flames if you don't agree. And in case you were wondering, I'm a fan of AutoCAD. But that should in no way affect your decision.