it depends.. maya is good for character animation, but max 8 is already equipt with advance character tools to.. i work in post production house, my material file, output file, layer file are so large, this is becouse the client oftenly make so many revision.max asset management keep me on track for this large file..

if you like to make detail charachter.. i think you better choose maya...but if you need your work to be done fast, u better chose max..max 8 already improve it modelling technic to do complecated stuff.. in 3d industries.. majority of it are in architect and construction firm.. so majority work out there are using autodesk max 8.. dit you know maya already been bought by autodesk.. becouse there are loosing market?

but if you want the most powerfull 3d program, u can look at Houdini... its to expensive though... and rarely use in malaysia or asia..