Also, whenever I spend money, I like to spend some time and effort making sure I know what the heckola I'm about to get myself into.  If, say, I wanted to purchase Sonar, and I couldn't find the info I wanted within a few clicks from a newsletter/e-mail, I might decide to utilize Google, Bing or another newfangled research tool to assist me.  If I wanted to dive deeper, I might even go on the product in question's user forum and read, read, read and ask, ask, ask until I had left no stone unturned in my quest to know where the heck my money was going.  But maybe it's just me.
 

YolandaSupercute

n13L5
Support (and fixes?) aren't included with the product anymore but turn into a separate subscription: just the backlash one would expect when one's favorite company gets bought out by corporate foam whippers.

Sorry you didn't find the info you wanted right off the bat, but there certainly is/was plenty of info out there telling us all about the new Sonar, at least when I was researching the possibility of upgrading.  Also, the above statement is a bit off, as really within the new model, support and fixes aren't included WITH the product because in all essence they ARE the product.  However you decide to attack this new version of Sonar financially (lump sum or monthly installments) you are paying for 1) the license to use the software and
                                              2) ongoing support, fixes, updates, and additional content for as long as you decide
                                                    to maintain such an agreement
 
At least that's my take.  And I'm happy with the whole shebang, after carefully researching and analyzing pros/cons of both the new Sonar software and the new Cakewalk purchasing model. 

You may well be right about the information, but as a mere Cakewalk newsletter subscriber, I was not told anything until the email I just received and that was the only link in it.
 
As for fixes and support, you're making my point for me. Prior to today, there was no separate agreement needed to get that.  So its a price hike by splitting out something that was previously included into a separate subscription. All thanks to corporate buyout, imho.

John T
I reserve the right to be amused by a man in a zany hat with an anti-money signature making a consumer complaint that centres around questions of professionalism. I mean, there's irony to be savoured there, if you like irony, which I do.

However, there is a sound point in "a feature list doesn't cut it". I read it perhaps more generously myself; I think Cakewalk are generally too shy about selling themselves.

Haha :)
 
I'm actually not against money per se... its quite convenient. It just shouldn't be religion. And I am against the fact that today's 'fractional reserve' system clearly is a ponzi scheme, enabling theft on a global level well beyond all conquests and oppressions of the past.
 
On subject:
 
While I'm still miffed that Cakewalk got bought out and expect more bad than good in the balance, you are correct, that I'm merely making a statement that Cakewalk should advertise their stuff along the path from clicky link to purchase page, there seem to be a few stations missing.
 
Well and that annoyance at separating out part of what was theretofore part of the product.  They do it as softly as they can, you get one year included with purchase (presuming outright purchase), and only after that would you have to start paying monthly, for further support, updates and fixes.

Don't know about anyone else but I've never bought off a newsletter whether it's an upgrade or new purchase.
I investigate and answer my own questions to try to be as educated as possible before spending $ on a product.
If you don't like it, don't buy it...

I bought, became an early adopter and love it, absolutely no regrets!

@n13l5
You caught me out. I only post here so folks can see what gear I have. In fact you're the first person to notice since I joined this forum over 10 years ago. Sorry there's no prize.

gustabo
I bought, became an early adopter and love it, absolutely no regrets!

I'm not talking against Cakewalk, I've been using their stuff since v. 1.0 on a 386 around 1987 or so...
 
But I've spent some of my life creating marketing materials, and I know this isn't how you want people to arrive at a 'buy it now' button from any source, newsletter or otherwise.
 
My complaint only means I love their stuff so I'm bothering to tell them the route from newsletter to purchase page is bumpy.

n13L5

gustabo
I bought, became an early adopter and love it, absolutely no regrets!

I'm not talking against Cakewalk, I've been using their stuff since v. 1.0 on a 386 around 1987 or so...
 
But I've spent some of my life creating marketing materials, and I know this isn't how you want people to arrive at a 'buy it now' button from any source, newsletter or otherwise.
 
My complaint only means I love their stuff so I'm bothering to tell them the route from newsletter to purchase page is bumpy.

One would assume that if you receive a newsletter you are a customer. That would mean you have some familiarity with the product. Your complaint as you state it above is they are taking you to a page that shows the new features in the new version. Which is to me an expected thing for them to do. Its very much in line with the character of the company. It assumes you know what is in the old version and does not try to have a sales pitch thrown at you.  I find that a very good approach for those of us looking forward to this new version. I sure don't need a heavy handed sales pitch to sell me.
 
   

n13L5
I clicked the link from your newsletter and ended up straight on a "buy it now" page with zero informational content on why its better than the last Sonar.
 
That's a little unmotivated :p
So next I find a product comparison matrix, which ostentatiously compares the new versions among each other, but comparisons to the "old" Sonar can only be seen by mouse-over.
 
Given this apparent lack of walking customers through the 'great reasons' to upgrade, the initial response is likely to turn out to be a dim read of the whole thing:
 
Support (and fixes?) aren't included with the product anymore but turn into a separate subscription: just the backlash one would expect when one's favorite company gets bought out by corporate foam whippers.
 
Next station on this train is subscription only?  Continual internet connection required?
 
Or are you guys going to tell us why the 'new' Sonar is great news to celebrate and just didn't have time to write anything yet or put it some place visible?
 
 
(disclaimer: I will never use subscription software, it would be reason for me to switch to other software)

if I get the underlying sentiment of this post, you are quite orrect. I posed something similar in the "Introducing the New Sonar..." thread. Noel Borthwick was kind enough to respond on page #39 of the thread - post #1160. To recap:
Me -
Craig, thanks for responding with a positive attempt to address my concerns. Your response highlights why my questions addressed not only bug fixes, but core product improvements. I've got to think that when any software developer redesigns a product, it is done with the intent of improving the way the new version handles core functions that it shared with the old one. Otherwise, what's the point in spending time and energy on a new version? Of course, with a new version (and new content and features) will inevitably come - new bugs! I'm obviously not asking Cakewalk to publish a list of bugs that exist in the new version (unless, of course, they can). I'm asking them to address improvements made to core functions shared between the old and new versions of the software. I mean, c'mon! They've got to know what they improved! Right?? It is generally a company's major sales technique for anything "new and improved" to tell the public...well...what is new and improved!! I got the new. What's the improved?
 
Noel -
There are plenty of bug fixes across multiple areas of the app. We fix bugs in parallel with development of new features and some commonly reported bugs get highlighted. For example a ton of editing and automation bugs got addressed as a result of mix recall since it serves as a giant macro for automating a large number of operations on track parameters and envelopes.
We will publish a list of known fixes when we get some bandwidth to sort through the database and separate stuff that was fixed as part of development vs older preexisting issues. Right now everyone is too busy with the immediate release to do that.
 
If you want a detailed listing of what has been fixed/improved in Sonar since X3e, you will have to wait. That's okay with me. I'm certainly in no big hurry to upgrade.
 

Around release time Cakewalk are busy with all the things that crop up and early bug catches/fixes. We've already had one that was detected by the pre release users with Melodyne.

If memory serves me correctly then it's the normal cycle that we get the bug list and sonar manual.PDF once the rush of the new release is passed so the lists are upto date.

n13L5
Cakewalk can't expect a newsletter subscriber to have previously searched around for info on the new version or even be aware of it.
 
So, basic marketing rule on a newsletter link would be to put you on a page with some info on why you should bother to upgrade.
 
@ John: A feature list doesn't cut it. Especially without any hint what's better than the existing version. A bunch of product names don't carry a lot of information. (any marketing department will tell you that)
 
Especially since the list mainly shows me that I'm paying twice for a bunch of stuff I already upgraded on my own:
Like Z3TA version 2 and Addictive Drums 2 with all Adpacks I found even remotely interesting.
 
And a monthly payment qualifies as a subscription, no matter if you use that word or avoid it.
 
 
@ Mudgel: All that content you mention was neither shown or linked from the newsletter.  -15 lines for a 'look at my stuff' sig?

Why do you INSIST on posting MIs-information.
 
There is not a monthly payment..  If you need to make payments they will oblige you.
 
 
 
But I worry that some may actually believe you know what you are talking about--that's scarey my friend!