I have to thank CW for offering a cheap upgrade to X3 Producer before the end of the year and for moving to the subsription model, since it's made my decision easy--I'm never buying another CW upgrade again. I've been using it since the old DOS days, and have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on "odd numbered" upgrades over the years, and with each upgrade I've found the interface to grow more confusing and use very few of the more advanced features, since I'm mainly a MIDI based composer using hardware modules and keyboard rather than soft-synths.
In the past, I used to buy the ugprades for the effects, and now that I have all of the legacy ProChannels and core CW effects and the 64-bit system  I see no more reason to move on. It's one thing when I decide to buy an upgrade every now then because I want to; another thing entirely when I'm forced to buy it every year. I realize that I don't "own" this software (only the "right to use it"), but a pure leasing based model is pure anathema to me. 

raisindot
It's one thing when I decide to buy an upgrade every now then because I want to; another thing entirely when I'm forced to buy it every year. I realize that I don't "own" this software (only the "right to use it"), but a pure leasing based model is pure anathema to me.

 
You should read more threads. Buy 12 months and you keep it. Wait 6 months or whatever, then do it again... Nothing has really changed.. If you worried about not getting patches outside the 12 month period I don't think Cakewalk ever released patches for a product more than 12 months after release so nothing really has changed...
 
Don't get it confused with Adobe style subscriptions... but anyway enough of this (sorry in advance to others reading this) as has been discussed to death elsewhere...

raisindot
I have to thank CW for offering a cheap upgrade to X3 Producer before the end of the year and for moving to the subsription model, ...

Sorry to disappoint, but there is no subscription model.   You can pay up front like you always have, or you can pay in instalments.  There is no subscription. 

Get platinum now and play with it.
 
No doubt, as with X3, it will be a few months to get the major bugletts squashed.
 
But, you may find some of the new bits are of use.
 
DO NOT UNINSTALL any previous version.
 
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It is NOT a software subscription. it IS similar to a periodical subscription: Pay in advance for period of time of support and attention. This does not mean getting monthly issues.
 
As has been written, the payment plan is more like a rent-to-own plan.
 
And: if you need to use Sonar at a remote location, not on your primary computer, you can rent the software for 50 per month.  How is that not way cool?
 
This "membership" structure really does provide lots of flexibility.
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I am unhappy they changed the names of the 3 variations of the program. Less confusing if they would have maintained the X3 designations. But I do think "Professional" should be the top product. "Platinum" is so Pavlovian.

For someone who is mainly a midi based composer with hardware synths I can totally get not upgrading. I would've probably kept it at Studio or even Basic. X3 was a very important upgrade for me with ARA, VST3 and speed comping. But midi-wise? Unless you must have SkyLight, probably a basic version of Sonar 8 would suffice.

scottfa
 I need a really good reason to switch.

$149 instead of $199 for upgrade from X3 Prod isn't a good reason?
 
 

Rather than being concerned with a hard copy versus a download, I'd get a copy of something like Acronis True Image.  That way you can back up your hard drive or even transfer files to another drive.  That would be more important to me, as it can restore (or move) your latest versions, versus the initial releases you'd get with a hard copy.  It'd be nice to [re]-install the current version of Sonar wouldn't it...versus having to install at ground zero and install all the updates again..??.

- Overall Platinum is very stable and snappy here, Win8.1x64. 
- I'm not getting along with CCC ...
- The AD stuff is great
 
The real reason I went ahead with the upgrade so soon after getting X3 is for mix recall.  I haven't tried it yet, but I have a candidate project I'm finishing that I'm really wanting to try it on.  It's one of those mixes that has trade-offs and being able to easily A/B/C will be great.  So, if mix recall works as advertised I'll be a happy camper.
 
I'll be even happier if the artificial dependencies on specific install locations get cleaned up.  :)

If Addictive drums 2, pro channel version of Rematrix reverb, vocal align, mix recall, and other stuff is worth the price of upgrade, then the answer s/b ...upgrade!   Running great on my setup btw.

mixmkr
If Addictive drums 2, pro channel version of Rematrix reverb, vocal align, mix recall, and other stuff is worth the price of upgrade, then the answer s/b ...upgrade!   Running great on my setup btw.

Add to that 3 AD ADpaks, 3 MIDI Paks, and 3 Kit pieces....and it's $125.99 at JRR Blowout Shop...
http://blowout.jrrshop.com/cakewalk-sonar-professional-upgrade-from-any-sonar

You have to have an account and be logged in to see the price....