Ok be honest if you have platinum how do you like it?  How was the install process for you? The upgrade price at $149 is that the best deal coming this year or should I wait until around Christmas time like I normally do to upgrade?  I must admit Sonar X3e is working just fine for me so convince me why I should upgrade again?

I didn't know it was still available at the intro $149.

It was too easy for me. Cakewalk will no doubt polish up things about the installation etc but compared to previous versions this was a breeze.

None of whatbCakewalk have promoted has turned out to be only hype. They've raised the bar and are living up to what they've said in their marketing material. Sonar Platinum is by far the best and stable version of Sonar ever

You just need to decide if you really want the new features added. X3e was a great update to Sonar's X series, and Platinum continues to be as stable as X3e. I like Platinum a lot . . . the new Control Bar, FX bin display, PRV display updates, as well as the Prochannel Rematrix Convolution Reverb and Bark of the Dog modules are my personal new favourites, though there are many other new additions that others will find useful (Vocal Sync, Addictive Drums 2, Mix Recall, Pattern Brush etc. . .)
 
The addition of Command Center for installing new updates, makes installing updates very easy, though it's far from perfected as of yet.
 
There will always be "DEALS", it's the nature of selling software products, however, with the new membership model being implemented recently it may be better to get in early, or pay more later ?

mudgel
I didn't know it was still available at the intro $149.

Cakewalk extended the promo cutoff. There are also resellers willing to discount further. As a serial upgrader, this version represents a significant upgrade to X3 with a free upgrade to the next version I would have purchased in a year thrown in. The first release of exclusive content happened this month.

I've just had a look and AudioDeluxe.com have Sonar Platinum upgrade from X3 for $125.99 for members. Only takes a 1 minute signup to join.

In my personal experience with it so far, ive had no problems that wasn't caused by either my lack of knowledge about a subject or my own computer. Sonar itself for me has proven to be very stable. I'm loving rematrix solo and also vocal sync specifically.

Artist send me their music through emails and vocal synce really helps me align their verse/hypes and multiple takes for fillers etc... Overall I am very satisfied with the upgrade. I had mostly any tool I needed on x3 but sometimes a lil something new gives me a burst of inspiration and creativity. Dependkng on what exactly you do... It has some great new tricks up its sleeve not present in x3 that help. I definitely like the customization of the tool bar. That's all just based on my experience with it.
For the price it's definitely well worth the upgrade to me anyways.

Well, I was excited...until I tried to install it and received a blue screen because of some conflict with bdfsfltr - which appears to be a part of my virus connection. So I could only install it in Safe Mode. Even then, Plt continues to crash and stop working - apparently it doesn't like Melodyne or at times my Roland Quad drivers - but also for other 'unknown' issues. So now, if I want to update, it has to be via Safe Mode - even disabling virus still gets me a nice blue screen. 
 
It's slow to open projects as well and really apart from midi manipulation improvements and the rematrix solo, there's not much in it for me. X3e continues to be my 'go to' DAW as it rarely if at all crashes and loads projects quickly.
 
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably just try the monthly payment option, as by now, I would have cancelled it...just sits on my system now as I won't touch it anymore...rather spend my time making music than stuffing around with Plt. Big waste of time and money for me.
 
Just my experience of it. So I'm not going to try to convince you to upgrade. I would advise you rather to try the monthly option if it's still available;

Doesn't matter.

Fabio Rubato
Well, I was excited...until I tried to install it and received a blue screen because of some conflict with bdfsfltr - which appears to be a part of my virus connection. So I could only install it in Safe Mode. Even then, Plt continues to crash and stop working - apparently it doesn't like Melodyne or at times my Roland Quad drivers - but also for other 'unknown' issues. So now, if I want to update, it has to be via Safe Mode - even disabling virus still gets me a nice blue screen. 
 
It's slow to open projects as well and really apart from midi manipulation improvements and the rematrix solo, there's not much in it for me. X3e continues to be my 'go to' DAW as it rarely if at all crashes and loads projects quickly.
 
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably just try the monthly payment option, as by now, I would have cancelled it...just sits on my system now as I won't touch it anymore...rather spend my time making music than stuffing around with Plt. Big waste of time and money for me.
 
Just my experience of it. So I'm not going to try to convince you to upgrade. I would advise you rather to try the monthly option if it's still available;

It seems to me that your virus setup is the problem. Most people use MS essentials or some non conflicting protection. Some do without and have their machines offline. I suppose what is a priority to you is not one I have. I much rather be able to run my programs without trouble. But thats just me.  

My biggest concern going in was how it would handle older projects, and in a word, perfectly. I could even argue it sounds better ( imagery and depth to my ears ) to the point i'm remixing some old tunes with 1/3 of the plugins used because the original takes sounded bigger than before. To be clear, I record live instruments much more than working with midi so I can't speak too much to that.
 
This is without a doubt the best version I've had and I've been around since Sonar 4.