You might want to look at this discussion:
http://forum.punchcad.com/showthread.php?t=1346

Looks like it comes down to:
Maxwell
Luxology | Modo
Bunkspeed | hyperShot

SU Podium and a host of other programs look interesting, but all have their down side. Price being chief among them. The three listed above go from $800 to $1000.

I think a lot of people are hoping that Shark FX will get a better renderer one day, but who knows when that will be and its hard to beat a team of developers who are dedicated to that one thing rather than spread thin over several areas.

Hello All

Not sure they're dumping PhotoWorks or just suplementing it's functionality with a more realtime rendering solution called PhotoView 360 based on the soon to be released Modo 360.

Modo 360 seems to be very similar in workflow to HyperShot but with IMHO a much cleaner easier to understand interface, licensing will probably be more favourable too with an unlimited size render version priced somewhere below the standard Modo price as opposed to $4000 for unlimited HyperShot.

Although there doesn't seem to be any information available on Modo 360 you can get an idea of the interface from taking a look at the following First Look at PhotoView 360 by Ricky Jordan:

http://www.rickyjordan.com/2008...-look-photoview-360.html

IMO both Modo 360 and HyperShot are designed to assist with quick high quality rendering during the design process to suplement your final rendering solution as opposed to replacing it.

All the best
Nick