By definition a demo is free.
 
So all Cakewalk has to do is always offer one month of the latest version for free
(without the freebies).
 
 
 

@Vastman - Yes it makes total sense from one perspective. But many potential customers won't part a dime until they get to try software out. As selling software is a numbers game it wouldn't be a brilliant idea for Cakewalk to tell potential customers that they must get out 20 dollars to try their software, they will probably end up trying a free demo from another DAW instead.

Pay money to trial an updated version of software that I've already invested in? 
haha, er, no, I won't be doing that thanks!   No demo no sale, is my philosophy.
I work in both Mac/Win OS using various DAWs.  I'll stick with X3 until such a time I can demo Platinum, it's no big deal. It's just slightly annoying that I can't try it out, for free…yet! 
 
Thanks!

I state my case.

My comments are pure speculation. For the sake of those that want the demo I hope they have one, and soon.

Perhaps the model suggested in an earlier post like Melodyne' download and install and program remains in demo for 30 days unless registered or something.

+1 I always thought it would make more sense for cake to have a 30 day free period, then charge the extra (~$3) each month to make the payments over the remaining 11 months. Wouldn't change anything about upfront purchases. No worry about a separate admin process to manage a demo. Demo would always be current version, etc.

Doktor Avalanche
The obvious thing to do is allow everybody to download Sonar and if no serial number and authorisation takes place it stays in demo mode.

this

Well, another month, another update…still no demo.
 
Poor form really considering Cakewalk made a point of saying (on releasing Sonar Platinum) that they would make a demo available, and much sooner than in the past.
 
Great way to lose existing and potential customers however...

Another option might be pay for a month, and if you cancel within 30 days, you get a refund. That way it doesn't cost you anything to demo, you get to try out the latest and greatest, and there's no need for Cakewalk to come up with a new demo version every month.
 
Before I suggest this to Cakewalk, is there some obvious, horribly stupid flaw in this idea that I'm missing?

chilldanny
Well, another month, another update…still no demo.
 
Poor form really considering Cakewalk made a point of saying (on releasing Sonar Platinum) that they would make a demo available, and much sooner than in the past.
 
Great way to lose existing and potential customers however...

Hi-
 
I also raised this question here http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3210126
and you're right, they made a point of saying they'd release a demo soon after the initial release. See http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3144986

They've remained silent, so who knows what the plan is. It seems odd that they would make a public (forum) announcement about releasing it early and then go so quiet about it.
 
-Susan