Well to be fair I do think the CW people did a poor job of explaining this. I believe they over thought it.  They were trying to be very detailed and accurate which was too confusing for some. 
 
 

We're musicians, not accountants...lol.
 
Regards,
Dan
 

You guys have made laugh too much on this thread.  That could have been said by the Doc on Start trek. 

John
Well to be fair I do think the CW people did a poor job of explaining this. I believe they over thought it.  They were trying to be very detailed and accurate which was too confusing for some. 
 
 

Maybe they shouldn't have used the term "membership". Just announce the "new" Sonar (like Apple did with the iPad, not calling it iPad 3).
 
They inform us that after you have paid upfront the normal $149 upgrade charge to purchase your own copy of the product, you not only get the announced new features, but during 2015 you will get the normal bug fixes/operation enhancements, AND brand new additional features at no additional charge for 12 months! Like a 2fer sale!
Oh but wait there's more. You can also purchase this product on an installment plan! Just 12 easy payments of $14.99/month and the product is yours, and you get to use the new product while you are paying off the monthly payments!
 
Walt

WallyG

John
Well to be fair I do think the CW people did a poor job of explaining this. I believe they over thought it.  They were trying to be very detailed and accurate which was too confusing for some. 
 
 

Maybe they shouldn't have used the term "membership". Just announce the "new" Sonar (like Apple did with the iPad, not calling it iPad 3).
 
They inform us that after you have paid upfront the normal $149 upgrade charge to purchase your own copy of the product, you not only get the announced new features, but during 2015 you will get the normal bug fixes/operation enhancements, AND brand new additional features at no additional charge for 12 months! Like a 2fer sale!
Oh but wait there's more. You can also purchase this product on an installment plan! Just 12 easy payments of $14.99/month and the product is yours.
 
Walt

I agree with you here. I guess they thought it would seem like a new feature. LOL "Now for the first time as a Sonar user you receive patches and fixes too". Kind of silly. 

John

Paul P
 
Actually it is a subscription for the first 11 months for those you do not buy up front.
 
And nothing wrong with that.
 
Of course, you'd have to be a bit crazy not to pay the 12th month of your subscription at which point you get to keep the product.
 

That would be true of all products one buys on credit. Don't pay the last car note and see what happens.
With a subscription you really never own anything. You pay for it as long as you wish to use the product. Its like a rental. Stop paying and it will no long work. Here after the 12 months you have an unlocked and forever useful program.  

 
I stopped my subscription to 'Guitar Player' years ago. Nobody requested that I return any issues.
 
Rocky
 

bluzdog
I stopped my subscription to 'Guitar Player' years ago. Nobody requested that I return any issues.

You weren't renting the printing press .

bluzdog

John

Paul P
 
Actually it is a subscription for the first 11 months for those you do not buy up front.
 
And nothing wrong with that.
 
Of course, you'd have to be a bit crazy not to pay the 12th month of your subscription at which point you get to keep the product.
 

That would be true of all products one buys on credit. Don't pay the last car note and see what happens.
With a subscription you really never own anything. You pay for it as long as you wish to use the product. Its like a rental. Stop paying and it will no long work. Here after the 12 months you have an unlocked and forever useful program.  

 
I stopped my subscription to 'Guitar Player' years ago. Nobody requested that I return any issues.
 
Rocky
 

You have a valid point. The only difference is that that was under a different sales model and peculiar to publications. In software its closer to the normal notion of renting not subscribing. Why some marketing groups uses subscribe is their choice when it doesn't accurately describe the model they are using i.e Adobe. CW has not used that term so we have no reason to do so either. CW is not using a rental model either. That needs to be clear.     

John
CW is not using a rental model either. That needs to be clear.     

The first 11 months look a lot like a rental to me, John.
 
Maybe we should call it an eleven month lease, with option to buy (for one payment) at the twelfth month.
 
 

John

Paul P
 
Actually it is a subscription for the first 11 months for those you do not buy up front.
 
And nothing wrong with that.
 
Of course, you'd have to be a bit crazy not to pay the 12th month of your subscription at which point you get to keep the product.
 

That would be true of all products one buys on credit. Don't pay the last car note and see what happens.
With a subscription you really never own anything. You pay for it as long as you wish to use the product. Its like a rental. Stop paying and it will no long work. Here after the 12 months you have an unlocked and forever useful program.  

 

+1 John.  Some of the posts over the last two days could fill a water tank from the crocodile tears being shed.  Good Grief.