Downloaded and installed Cakewalk By Bandlab today.
It went easy as pie, I didn't have to do a thing except watch.
 
Having never had Platinum and not doing much in X3, it's a lot different from SHS 6, but really familiar, too.
Played a couple of the demo projects, played some of my own songs, recorded both a MIDI and audio track at the same time. Everything worked as expected.
 
I'll have to poke around a little bit to see if I can customize a few things as I like them, or as I'm used to them.
Otherwise, an amazing deal.
Still no talent button, though.
 
Next: an audio interface for this computer.
 

Audio interfaces have changed a lot.
Seems like no one uses PCI anymore.
It's all Lightning, Thunderbolt, or USB.
Here's a link to a comparison page:
http://compare.focusrite.com

Audio interfaces have changed a lot.
Seems like no one uses PCI anymore.
It's all Lightning, Thunderbolt, or USB.

 
Still PCI here. Three Delta 1010's. No pre's...just transparent AD/DA with almost zero latency. Awesome units. When caps go bad, I just replace! 

PCI here, too.

PCI may still be used by many, but I have not seen a new PCI audio interface in a while. A long while.

It's true that USB-connected interfaces are vastly more popular than PCI or Firewire.
 
There is no technical reason, however, nothing that makes USB inherently superior, to compel one to choose it over alternatives. PCI, in fact, has some advantages: slightly better latency, a smaller footprint on your desk, no need to power off and on, doesn't need to compete with other devices on the same bus. Although there are few PCI products on the market, they do happen to be some of the highest-quality interfaces you can buy.
 
The big advantage of USB is that there are so many more products to choose from, at every price point and feature set. Many now support both USB and Firewire. Overall, USB interfaces win in terms of both bang:buck and cost:feature ratios.
 
For myself, I've been a Firewire user for over a decade and probably will continue that way for as long as it's a viable option. But if turns out not to be an option on my next computer, I'd have no problem going USB.

I have a few interfaces - one for writing\small studio (MOTU) - one for live (presonus).  I run the presonus with firewire.  Works great 96k\24 bit. I ran the MOTU under USB2 for a while, then went thunderbolt. It goes to 192 without a problem.   The latency is unnoticeable on either - but I use the built in no latency monitor solutions each manufacturer provides. 
 
In my application - I cannot tell a difference in sound or latency with the connectivity options I use, but I keep it pretty simple.   

PCI is basically the same concept as Thunderbolt - a direct connection to the computer's bus rather than having to go through a layer like USB.
 
Platinum appearing to be similar to X3 is only on the surface. Platinum goes a lot deeper, runs faster, and has some features that X3 lacks. You'll love it.

The only problem with PCI is that if you need a new MOBO, then the PCI bus (if there is one) is emulated and many folks report problems using legacy PCI cards in such systems. Unfortunately M-Audio never did upgrade there boards to PCI-e.

Unfortunately M-Audio never did upgrade there boards to PCI-e.

 
Wish they would have. I use a PCIe to PCI adapter card and run two units on one PCIe bus. Has worked flawlessly for two years now. There's always a way when you have a need. Someday I'll be forced to upgrade, but as long as I can still get parts, I'll stay in my comfort zone. Thankfully, caps are inexpensive.