Google's Sketchup and Layout
Sketchup and Layout are 3 and 2D drawing programs respectively. While the 3D of Sketchup is unique is that you literally draw polys with pen tools, giving a very low entry inroad into full 3D.
You can't compare the 3D of Sketchup to a true rendering engine -- it is "cartoon 3D" -- but for conceptual work it is excellent. Vets might miss multiple light sources, texture mapping, et. all but its pretty fun and practical for basic shapes. You can of course always take it as far as you like it, and import (with the licensed version) other 3d work into Sketchup, but it is a fairly targeted app for people who are interested in quick 3D mockups of a design that you really would want to work out in a true powerhorse later.
Its big win is of course that it integrates with Google Earth, allowing you to model your own home/corporate HQ/ ferris wheel etc.
Layout on the other hand is a pretty solid vector drawing program that integrates with Skethup perfectly. The one thing that drives me insane is your cursor constantly snaps to the point Layout THINKS you want it to be at -- honestly without that feature I'd actually want to get a licence for Layout. Its got basic layering, style copying, and multi page exprt great for presentations or framed animations.
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