I haven't read up on the Personal Edition Software from SolidWorks, but I am a current SolidWorks and AutoCAD user and have some experience with a previous version of ProE (2000 i2). I am puzzled by AlexDring's statement "but its good old fashioned AutoCAD I use with something I need to get done or is complicated geometry." I wonder how hard you tried or how much you really learned about SolidWorks and Inventor. What are things you "get done" or what is "complicated geometry"? AutoCAD is great for certain tasks, such as schematics, quick layouts, etc.. even a better tool than SolidWorks in some areas. But complicated geometry??? Get real. SolidWorks and other programs like it blow ACAD away. Try mold design, consumer product design, sheet metal, large assembly design ect... without surfacing tools, bend tools, draft analysis, undercut detection, physical dynamics, built in FEA, interfernce detection, a standard library of parts, a history tree (I could literally go on for another 2 pages). Try making a fillet in ACAD 3D, or adding draft, or creating an offset surface, filling a surface, and then try to change it. You have to add material and then remove it again. If boolean operations like these aren't bass ackwards for part design, then I don't know what is. If you can't see this, you're hoplessly lost and I don't think anyone could convince or show you the light. Sure there are times when boolean operations are handy, but only aout 5% of the time. And don't forget assembly drawings and documentation. That could be another whole discussion. True, MCAD packages have a learning curve to them. I learned SolidWorks on my own as well as ACAD and can honestly say, SolidWorks was more intuitive to learn for designing mechanical products. The reason the learning curve may be longer for SolidWorks is because it just plain does a ton more. Why? Because their customers use it, ask for more, and have their requests fufilled. Yes, more functionality means more possible things to learn. Does that mean that you use everyhting - no, most don't have the need to. ACAD just simply doesn't have the tools to create/design/document complicated things quickly, easily, or effectively. This doesn't mean that you can't do them with ACAD - I've done it - layed out a 500 or greater piece assembly in ACAD 3D and then created 2D drawings- nasty - even nastier when the design changes quickly, doubling the work by changing the unassociated 3D solid and 2D drawings. People outside my company using other software products I had talked to thought I was nuts, then I saw the light and convinced my company in the process. I have a similar design of another product in SolidWorks. There were huge differences between getting each of those designs to that point. ACAD can't compete when it comes to designs like these. Try documenting assembly drawings quickly and easily in ACAD from 3D Solids and correctly filling out a large BOM for each. MCAD packages once again rule here. I also don't understand why there are complaints about "Free" Trial Software. ITS FREE! Why would you expect a company to develop products and then give away full featured versions for free with no time limit or other restrictions involved? That would be suicide. Would you give your full featured products away to customers without compensation for "forever" time periods - obviuosly not. You wouldn't be in business very long. I think it is a great thing that SolidWorks has the free personal edition, even with strings attached. Not many other MCAD companies do this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but there aren't exactly any free ACAD trial versions that I am aware of. In fact a seat of ACAD is not much less than a full featrued seat of SolidWorks. PLB, I understand the time restrictions you may have, but if learning SolidWorks or another MCAD package is really important to you, get a good book before you get the personal edition (Try David Murray's book on SolidWorks 2003). Sacrifice some sleep (did I say that?), talk to your company about starting a small pilot project (if you work for a company rather than for yourself). I had many discussions with users of the Software. Try asking questions on the SolidWorks or Inventor discussion forum. Most are or were ACAD users and will tell you very similar things. Then talk to a reseller when you are able to stand on your own two feet in the MCAD world. Barter, bargain, hassle them, give their sales pitches right back to them by asking tough questions on the spot. I put in many late nights, because that is what it took. I read three books on the subject, I did the helpful built in tutorials, I read the moving from AutoCAD help files, and I read online. Did I learn it overnight? No. In 6 months - yes. Am I still learning things - Yes. Isn't that the case in life though, especially of an engineer - you're always learning - thats why I love it. I would rather have that from a product that I know constantly gets the attention it needs to get better and better (That is defintely not the case with ACAD - when is the last time ADESK put some really cool features in your upgrades?) Am I better off, more marketable in the job market, more valuable to my own company? You bet. Was it always easy? No. I don't know of many good things in life that are.
The pessimist says the glass is half empty. The optimist says the glass is half full. The engineer says the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
lol. Some good points there bud, just try and breathe next time! lol. 
