Hello Fellow Wizards,
Please tell me you opinion of the experience I can expect when switching from Windows to Mac.  What joys and challenges can I expect?  Does Sonar even work on a Mac?  What about software challenges? (I work with Ivory, Omnisphere, Sampletank 3, etc. etc and Waves Processors among others. 
 
Thanks for your time!

Sonar will not work natively on a mac. I have run Sonar X3 successfully via Parallels and X2 via bootcamp on my 2013 Macbook Pro. I feel like running my Mac via bootcamp is silly,though, as it would be more logical to just use a windows machine. However, running the program via Parallels means I can actually have both Logic and Sonar running simultaneously and talking to each other. It's not something I've found any real need to do, but an interesting option, nonetheless.
My actual workflow, however, involves use of Sonar on my Windows 7 studio desktop, and Logic on my Mac. Reason 7 is the one program I have in common between the two machines. Midi, Audio, and sync pass back and forth through my Focusrite 18i20 and iConnectivity IConnectMidi4+.
You didn't ask about running both machines, though, so speaking specifically to making a switch to Mac: I wouldn't do it if you still want to run Sonar. Using it will require a version of Windows and some compromises. I think Apple's CoreAudio and associated protocols blow the doors off of what's available on Windows machines, though, So I am still holding out hope that Sonar eventually comes to the Mac, natively, and I can finally abandon my Windows box.
As much as I like Logic and Reason, I am not willing to leave Sonar behind. It's the one piece of software I use that suits my way of working and just feels right.

One question... Why would you want to switch to a mac?
If you have to start using Logic or another mac-only product I can understand. But, please don't do it because the Apple hardware is supposedly so much better and more stable than a windows machine. If you are going to run Sonar (which you indeed can as reactorstudios said), you will have to run windows on the mac, which basically turns it into a (quite expensive) windows machine...
If you are going to switch, do it for the right reasons, and not because someone tells you it is more stable, faster, or more secure. Stability comes from the fact that OS X is built for the hardware, so if you mix good hardware with windows, you get the same stability (at a lower cost). Faster is very subjective. My 4 year old (windows) machine is probably slower than a brand new mac or a brand new windows machine. My macbook pro (from 2012) is a lot slower than any of my windows machines, and costs about the same. Security is a myth. Windows has had far less vulnerabilities than OS X has the last few years.
Coreaudio is indeed better than asio (by a small margin on good hardware, but still), but only works in OS X, not on windows...
 
So, if you like the looks of the Apple machines or you want to run some apple-only software, I'd say, go for it. Just don't excpect Sonar to run any better on it. Otherwise, save some money, and get a good windows machine.

These people have covered most of it I think...

I'm running a Mac Pro with Bootcamp and win7pro... It works great and I get all the power of the dual quad processors...

So if you do this, it gives you more horsepower than you can easily find in windiws based hardware...

As for the Mac OS side of things? Personally, I don't like the OSX system... I'm sure it dies well enough for its programs, but I'm not comfortable with its way of thinking, so I never use OSX at all...

That said, it's very pricey hardware... But if you get it, it's worthwhile... For me running windows, I barely think about the fact that it's a Mac! ;-)

Keni

There are workstation machines from HP and Lenovo (among others) that offer dual CPU support up to 12 cores each, so the hardware is available. It's also not cheap, but more configurable (especially now, when you look at the current mac pro offering). You can also find workstation motherboards from Asus or supermicro. But, if you're not comfortable with building your own machine, that might not be the way to go...
 
But Keni is right about OS X, I don't like OS X that much either. I find it very restrictive to be honest. And, I managed to make it crash more than my windows machines... :)

Yes c5_convertible...

You are right about the windows based multi processor machines...

There are also a handful of video workstation machines that can use as many as 8 processors!

Cost? Astronomical! ;-)

Keni

Yep.. They are.. Still, I would like one... :)
 
But the "small" workstations are not that expensive. You can get one for 2500-3000€ around here. Usually with only one 8 or 10 core cpu, but still with some room to add a CPU later on. I've been thinking about getting one of these, but I should concentrate on actual music instead of having gearlust.... I hardly get over 20% cpu usage at any time...

Apple In - Apple Out

marvinglenn2
...Does Sonar even work on a Mac?...

 
That question was answered in your previous thread about Mac v PC.
http://forum.cakewalk.com/m3131103.aspx
Were you expecting a different answer this time?

My wife is a graphics person and has an iMac and Apple laptop.  She has had more more trouble with the hardware and operating system than I have had on Windows.  It is also very difficult to replace a bad component, and you pay more for an equivalent amount of power and storage. My daughter has also had unreliable Apple laptops and iPads. My current iPhone 5 is having a battery issue and that is not user-replaceable.
 
It took about 30 minutes for me to add a 1 TB SSD in my rack-mount Windows machine.  Not sure how that would work on a Mac.
 
Nothing against them at all, but I decided to stick with PC for now.