Alias|Wavefront's Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition will be available starting December 4, 2002, but users will have to wait until January 2003 to download the software for free. The initial version of Maya Personal Learning Edition, launched in February 2002, has had more than a quarter of a million downloads to date. The Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition includes all new features found in Maya Complete 4.5 software. Substantial enhancements have been made in response to requests from the community, allowing the new version to be a more effective learning tool. The watermark is no longer visible when working in wire frame mode so users can concentrate on developing their modeling skills. Also with this new release, it is possible to import different data types, including files from the commercial version of Maya. The Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition CD comes with English, French, German, Japanese and Korean language tracks along with a one hour DVD learning guide and an introduction to Maya booklet. Also new in this version of Maya Personal Learning Edition is one-step documentation installation in either English or Japanese. On December 4, 2002, Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition will be part of the Learning Maya/Beginner's Guide, available for US$19.95 at the Alias|Wavefront online store at store.aliaswavefront.com. Free download of Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition will begin in January 2003 at www.aliaswavefront.com/mayaple. Maya 4.5 Personal Learning Edition is for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems.
