Can your Mac do dual boot? If you can set up a Windows XP / Vista / 7 dual boot thing, and your Mac is more powerful than your PC, then this might be worthwhile. I've never owned a Mac, though, so I wouldn't be able to help you here.
# ThaGhost :
Can someone help me get a download for 3DS Max?
You're going to have to Google this; eventually, you might need a torrent. GOM had a copy of Max 5 uploaded at one point, but I think Singh or someone else took it down to keep the site up. Don't know if VS ever had a copy. Either way, you'll soon discover that part of the reason all of the groups here are "crews" is because they all have pirate ships. 😛
Once you actually get 3DS Max 5 running (don't bother getting a newer version, it's going to be shinier but it'll run more slowly and 5 has everything you need), we can start with some of the basics.