What is very simple 3D modeling software for beginners?

you need to add some more info ... modeling for what ? do u want to
animate it afterwards ?

there is xsi which droped there price and the basic packge is 500$
there is modo and there is z-brush, but it depeneds what are your
needs and goles ...

3D Canvas

3D Canvas is a real-time, 3D-modeling and -animation tool that
incorporates a drag-and-drop approach. Complex models can be
constructed from simple 3D primitives or created using 3D Canvas's
object-building tools.

3D Home Architect Home Design Deluxe

Create your dream home plans. Based on a powerful CAD engine, 3D Home
Architect Home Design Deluxe puts you in control of every detail. Plan
the layout, place the furnishings - even tweak the lighting - it's all
within reach! Whether you're embarking on a serious building project
or simply experimenting with home design ideas, find everything you
need in 3D Home Architect Home Design Deluxe 6.

CyberMotion 3D-Designer

CyberMotion 3D-Designer is an integrated 3D-graphics program for
modeling, animating, and rendering photo realistic 3D-scenes. It
features a vast number of 3D modeling tools, terrains, and
atmospheres, hierarchical animation,

And more in here:
http://www.iomx.com/download/3d-modeling-cad-programs.htm

Google search:
3D modeling software +beginners

I hope it helps.
Phossil

Xara 3D
http://www.xara.com/products/xara3d/

Good feedback.  I'm not going to animate it... I just want to draw
some 3D objects and be able to rotate them to see them from different
perspectives to make sure the graphics I layer on top of their
surfaces are readable from different angles.

If I were you I would go with maya, it is the best after all. And
while it might not be the easiest to learn. Once you get the hang of
it you will be able to create just about anything with this software
like 2 well known movies Spiderman and Ice Age amoung many others.

http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml

Maya 6

This is the far most easiest 3-d program I have used.  It is fairly
easy to use for 3-d animation.  I'm 14 and I've conquered the program.
 There is a free version of the software at:
http://www.alias.com/eng/products-services/maya/maya_ple/index.shtml 
. The version you buy can range from $900 - $7000.  I recommend
starting off with the free version.

I hope this brings help to you!
Corey

My experience is that Caligari Truspace is exceptionally easy to use
for beginners.  It was one of the first programs I ever used, and
while I wouldn't recommend it to anyone trying to do professional
work, it's very intuitive for beginners.

Another tool that's not too bad is Rhinoceros 3D.  It useable just by
playing with it, and it has the advantage of using "perfect" math
instead of triangle meshes.  Triangles can be confusing and
frustrating for first-time users.  Also, Rhino3D uses a graphical
interface and a command-line interface at the same time, so when
you're confused about which menu item to select, sometimes the prompts
in the command-line section of the screen are helpful.

http://www.alice.org/ 
(Learn to Program Interactive 3D Graphics)


http://www.opencroquet.org/
(Croquet is a combination of computer software and network
architecture that supports deep collaboration and resource sharing
among large numbers of users within the context of a large-scale
distributed information system. Along with its ability to deliver
compelling 3D visualization and simulations, the Croquet system's
components are designed with a focus on enabling massively multi-user
peer-to-peer collaboration and communication.)

Hello 

go to 
http://www.rhino3d.com
http://www.rhino3d.com/edu.htm

may be this the best choice

I've found that the Blender program is excellent for beginners and
advanced 3-D modelers alike. The download is free, and the site is
chock full of tutorials that will take you all the way from basic
modeling to full-scale animations. The site is http://blender.org .

You could try:
http://www.my3d.co.uk

It has lots of info about simple modelling software.

Cinema 4D seems to be getting popular and it is much less expensive
than Maya.  If you want something free that you can try out.  Go to
http://www.Blender.org and check out Blender. It is an open source
free animation suite.

Good luck

Try Sketchup  http://www.sketchup.com/
Free trial, but it is kind of pricey.  There may be a substanial
discount if you are a student or teacher.


Below are the descriptions from Cool Tools
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/000902.php

This software is the opposite of CAD--- Computer Aided Design--- which
is detail-driven. SketchUp gives you total flexibility messing with
the FINAL look of something. You work directly with the vision you
have, learn what's wrong or right with it, and keep trying variations
or starting down new tracks.

You can flick details in and out. How about a corrugated steel roof on
the house? No, try standing-seam metal, um, in red. Not bad. Could the
pitch of the roof be steeper? That's better. Where should the chimney
go? Here on the peak? No, put it over the wall corner for a corner
fireplace. Going inside, how would a kiva fireplace look in that
corner? It would be better if it was bigger, like that. Plop a couch
in there for scale. Better move the doorway over a bit. Yeah that's
good enough for now.

I came to this program because I was designing a house I want to
build, and I could NOT draw a convincing hip roof. Suddenly with
SketchUp I was drawing the whole house, and a basement, trees, and an
adjoining building and visualizing the whole site with textured
surfaces, in wireframe, in X-ray, with sun shadows, at night with
lights on, in walk-through mode. I tried a clerestory my wife fancies
and found that it probably wouldn't work with this design. I tried a
house based on an existing barn's dimensions and found that wouldn't
work either.

Check out the longer feature-tour video. That's what sold me. This is
one powerful program, shockingly intuitive to use. It works for a lot
more than buildings--- landscapes, worlds. Video game designers use
it. Architects use it but don't let their clients touch it for fear of
being replaced. There's a whole online community of people creating
new downloadable components and textures for it--- humans, pets,
kitchen sinks, cappuccino machines, beds, wallpapers, stones,
masonries, cars, trees, fences, doors...

It costs $500. It's a bargain. Works on Macs and PCs.

--Stewart Brand

SketchUp is unbelievably good. It's everything software *should* be,
but isn't: intuitive, productive, stable, and fun. Using a remarkable
technology they call "inferencing," SketchUp has an uncanny ability to
figure out which direction you wish to draw; using "locking," you can
fix that direction and then reference it to other points in the model.

My productivity is skyrocketing. My ability to freely experiment with
designs without punishing amounts of rework, and the sheer thrill of
seeing what I'm imagining quickly and precisely come to fruition, has
me raving to all and sundry about this great product. There's an
eight-hour demo available. The product is pricey, but if you do any
sort of commercial work, I swear it is going to pay for itself within
days. It is simply that good.

-- David Priest