Create NURBS primitives
(We don't have these in Max, we have to make a parametric primitive, then convert to NURBS.)

This is your MOVE tool; notice Maya is Y-up, not Z-up like Max.
(Remember, RGB = XYZ, and here we see Green [Y] pointing up.)

Alt for navigating panes (viewports)

ACTIVATE a pane with the middle mouse button
(and not lose your selection)

Zoom = Alt Left AND Middle Mouse Btn (also called Dolly)

Arc rotate = Alt Left Mouse Btn (tumble)

Pan = Alt Middle Mouse Btn (track)

Region Zoom = Ctrl Alt Left Mouse Btn
(Drag right to zoom/dolly OUT,
drag left to zoom/dolly IN)

Just hold down the Alt key and you will get used to it.

In Maya, you cannot accidentally create a User view, because, you cannot arc rotate in an orthographic view like you can in Max.

Change views here:

Set the viewport mode here.
Hot keys are:
4 for wire and
5 for smooth.

NURBS Smoothness

How it looks, not altering the geometry ... hit 1, 2, 3

Tool subsets

F2 =
F3 =

F4 = dynamics

F5 = rendering

Animation: To Set a key

You do not have to turn on anything like AutoKey. Just hit s or go:

The indication for a set key is kind of subtle; here is one on frame 40:

This is the equivalent of Max's time configuration button; it's in a similar place at the lower right: