Anderton
The only drawback I've found is that SONAR is very picky about its Windows environment. Its code has hooks deep into the operating system, which is one reason why a Mac version will probably never appear (although of course, it runs great under Boot Camp). To SONAR, a Windows computer is like a combination lock - when all the tumblers are in place, it opens up. But that's why this forum is so great - because odds are someone has experienced whatever problem you have, and can offer a solution or a workaround.
 
There's a reason why this forum is considered one of SONAR's outstanding "features"!

Craig,
You make it sound like Sonar's pickyness is a feature. 

Beepster
PS: Don't consider that a "bite" Mr. Lemon. It is a fact based neutralization of your erroneous and highly suspect comments. You did not waste my time or make me angry. In actuality you should be the one who is angry because you just wasted your time (or the time/money of whoever may have paid you to post that).
 
That is another huge benefit of being a Cakewalker. Quick, accurate and honest information. The community will not only help with support issues much faster, friendlier and more accurately than other communities you can essentially learn how to produce music from start to finish just by hanging around this place without being attacked or insulted... even if you DON'T use Sonar.
 

+1 Beep

microapp

Anderton
The only drawback I've found is that SONAR is very picky about its Windows environment. Its code has hooks deep into the operating system, which is one reason why a Mac version will probably never appear (although of course, it runs great under Boot Camp). To SONAR, a Windows computer is like a combination lock - when all the tumblers are in place, it opens up. But that's why this forum is so great - because odds are someone has experienced whatever problem you have, and can offer a solution or a workaround.
 
There's a reason why this forum is considered one of SONAR's outstanding "features"!

Craig,
You make it sound like Sonar's pickyness is a feature. 

Not sure how you got that out of his post. The one thing I like about Craig being involved with Gibson and thus indirectly with Cakewalk is that he's pretty blunt about it's shortcomings and the stability weirdness is one that I've seen him acknowledge on multiple occasions (which I think he has done again here).
 
It's not that it's so buggy that it's unuseable but you have to be a little more careful with it than with a couple of the other DAWs out there (and really I think there are only two or three that outperform in this regard so it's not like Sonar is trailing the pack by any means... it's just not currently at the very top of the stability list). What I have noticed in the past year is a massive improvement in stability and concerted effort to resolve these issues. Having someone like Craig around who knows what the heck he's talking about and is willing to point out these things will inevitably benefit the end product much more than a yes man only concerned with marketing cliches and moving product.
 
The other thing is with X1 and X2 you were dealing with a HUGE pile of new stuff... actually almost a whole new program really with X1. As far as X2 I think a major problem was that on top of being only the second release after such a massive rewrite they started implementing some really nutty stuff which may have been poorly timed.
 
Like coding it for Windows 8 before Win 8 was even released and cramming in a ton of touch features. I'm guessing that they wrote it based on whatever pre-release MS gives to developers and then when 8 finally did come out MS had changed so much crap it turned into a mess (and then MS continued screwing around with 8 quite drastically because it was turning into yet another "between good versions" flop like Vista or ME and the like). The Bakers probably just threw their hands up in the air and said "Frack it! This is a mess. let's just focus on getting the next version right." and they did. They had a semi mature and patched Win 8 to program around, touch had advanced and become less of a joke and Sonar X series itself had had enough time to be user tested on a broader level so a lot of those nasty quirks could be ironed out.
 
Now they have a good, solid and mature platform to work with instead of chasing around a million little bugs and oddities. They can take their time to really hammer out some of the remaining little program farts and implement all the crazy requests we users are making (and it is already starting to show with this current release).
 
I mean look at the release of X3 compared to X2. There was very little squawking with X3 and most of the problems were relatively minor and most got patched pretty quickly. Now with the "New" Sonar (still wish there was a more definitive name for it than that but whatever) we've seen a few complaints here and there but overall they seem even less than with X3 and we are still in the absolute raw first release (as in no patches to date).
 
Perhaps I'm being overly optimistic but I think things are going in the right direction as far as stability and I think they have a good chance of getting rid of that "buggy" reputation once and for all and may even get themselves right at the top of the list of DAWs in this regard. There is ONE contender I think they will have a VERY hard time over taking in regards to stability and accessibility on low powered systems (who shall remain nameless) but the robustness of the package and hyper advanced workflow compared to that competitor kind of makes it moot IMO.
 
Anyway... I've never seen Craig make excuses for bugs or shortfalls. Quite the opposite in fact.
 
As far as assuming the OP was a troll... well I may have jump the gun a little but really that post served no purpose. If they return with some legitimate details and desire to solve the problems I will immediately apologize. Considering they marked my first post as "Best Answer" though gives me the impression I did not really offend them.
 
Who knows... it's the internet. Wackiness abounds.

I had the exact same idea as Microapp after reading Craig's post :)
Perhaps the metaphore simply wasn't perfect.

Sanderxpander
I had the exact same idea as Microapp after reading Craig's post :)
Perhaps the metaphore simply wasn't perfect.

I think he was emphasising the benefit of the community in being able to help sort out system specific issues... not the actual bugs themselves.
 
I don't think Craig experiences many of the problems others do because he's always at the system (and it is probably a REALLY nice system) and knows this stuff inside and out. It's a little harder for those of us who aren't quite into the guts of stuff all the time. I know it has taken me a good long time to figure out decent problem resolution with Sonar and my computer. Generally I just have to drop a question into the queue though and someone comes along to save my sorry arse (usually scook... lol).
 
Considering I knew next to NOTHING about computers or DAWs a few short years ago (not that I'm an expert now but I get things done) I'd say that's a pretty good endorsement for this place. Sometimes an old post of mine gets dredged up to the top of the list and feel utter shame and embarrassment at how completely ridiculous it seems now. No one yelled at me or called me stupid (like might have happened elsewhere). They just helped me get through it. I did however try to refrain from freaking out or lashing out sooooo... yanno.

Beep,
I have the utmost respect for both you and Craig.
But seriously, it is Craig's gig to some extent manage us and try to put a positive spin on anything that begins to trend negative. He is the techno/musician front man in this situation and he does a helluva job at it. I think too that he has a personal stake in seeing this Gibson/Cake thing work since it is kinda his baby and that is only natural and certainly understandable. I respect his experience and opinions (and yours) but I reserve the right to disagree when I deem it necessary.
I am not making any kind of judgement here at all, I am simply stating what is.

No qualms at all (and thanks for the props but really they are undeserved... seriously I'm a nobody hack in the grand scheme of things, still learning). Not trying to be argumentative here either. I just read that differently and don't think Craig was trying to spin any problems into "features". Just that despite those problems one will probably have more success getting help than perhaps one may get if they were on other platforms.
 
Honestly though, and I do realize Craig does have to toe the party line somewhat, based on the things he used to say about Sonar before getting hired by Gibson and what he says now I gotta say I don't really see a huge difference. It is slightly more dressed up I guess and he's here more often touting the benefits of Sonar but much of the core message and opinions seems to be mostly unaltered. It isn't even so much dressing it up as much as saying "okay, I hear ya and I've experienced this myslef but here's a bunch of ways to get around that" or "yanno, I'd really like to see that improved myself too". If you read the old SOS articles he's written on Sonar you can see even back then when the program was... well still a little more questionable there's a lot of love going on and I think it's for the same reasons I like Sonar. It's really a good tool for a guitar player wanting to create full band arrangements on their own.
 
I really shouldn't be speaking on the man's behalf though. It's just the impressions I get from it all and it is a stark difference from what the Baker's post or even some of the forum members.
 
Meh... I should probably stop yammering.
 
Cheers.

I think we are all on the same page here. I want Sonar to be as good as it possibly can. But it is and always should be a work in progress and in order to improve Sonar, Cake needs to hear it like it is and this may at times be be unpleasant for the people carrying the flag. It is our job as Cake customers to hold their feet to the fire.

lol... you must have missed my little meltdown when they released X3 leaving X2 all wonky. I was not amused. All is well now though... because I'm on X3.

jlemon2
I had no idea what kind of people I was posting to. I won't bother defending myself.
No need.

If the OP was just another troll, there was no reason for him to post back.
I think you CW fanboys were a bit out of line attacking the OP. I remember when I first joined the forum, many of the regulars were quite intimidating until I hung around awhile and got the feel for this forum. I did not know to post my specs as a signature, how to ask my questions or how to raise concerns. I watched as the regulars tore newbies a new arse, so I didn't post anything for a couple of years.
In this thread, Sanderx originally tried to reach out, and maybe the OP wasn't online to reply immediately. But, after the smack down by the rest of the crew, I don't blame the OP for not returning.
Can't we try to be a little more accommodating until we are SURE a newbie is in fact a troll?
I'm not convinced he was a troll, after all, he knows about the white screen of death, routing limitations and the gadgets. Or maybe he just read about them after joining yesterday.
 
Let's just try to play nice. We were ALL newbies once.