interesting, what kinda of video card do you have? and is your computer up to date with updates and such?
Blender was too hard for me to get into, so i downloaded a 30 day trail if 3Ds Max 9.. there is also Maya, which is free.
look, after 3 days i've been able to run circles around Blender, like you i spent hours on end trying to figure out blender and only got frustrated..
http://www.smcars.net/forums/3d-stud...g-efforts.html <- i'm no expect, but if i can learn how to do this, and be able to get this far in little as four days, the 30 is a really treat.