Rick,
I'll try to give the highlights here and suggest that for a more detailed discussion, that you drop over to the MSM user forum at CalypsoVentures.Proboards.com - I monitor the MSM forum so tend to respond quickest to messages that are posted there - while I scan these forums when I have time - so a new post here may or may not come immediately to my attention.
As the MSM author, I'm a bit biased - I think mach is easier to learn if one starts with MSM (that was one of MSM's design goals). Since MSM lays out the functionality that Mach offers with a logical, work flow driven user interface design and MSM provides extensive user documentation, many find it easier to learn. OTOH if one already knows Mach to the level that the standard mach screens are second nature, then MSM will appear "different" - to some that's good, to others that's bothersome.
The best suggestion I can make is to try the MSM software and decide for yourself how you like it. One reason there's a free trial is that there's just no substitute for hands on use to understand a software package.
Re the difference between editions:
The Personal edition supports all the functionality which Mach itself provides. So if you are happy with mach "as it comes out of the box" then the personal edition will not limit you.
The Professional edition adds the functionality that MSM provides and hence extends what mach does. Two significant extensions are the Probing facilities (any operations that requires a 3d probe or a touch plate requires the pro edition) and Tool/WC Table extensions (the ability to save Tool and WC tables to disk and reload them later).
No need to let picking between the editions be a source of stress - you can upgrade personal to pro at any time.
Dave
Does the pro version (I read the differences) have more capabilities that I may want or easier or is it really just for someone making a living out of this? Sorry, but I'm not sure about the differences between
the two.