Thank you for the answers... I was glad to know that versions are going away from now on. I didn't know that. Yeah, I am that uninformed guy, as you may have noticed. Well I guess I will take the advice and way for some time before jumping in the New Sonar bandwagon (since I just paid CW a couple hundred of dollars for X3, I do not want to spoil them by doing it again right away).
 

mbarsott
I feel cheated because three times I received an email with a relatively good deal to update Sonar just to discover a new version was released a few weeks later. So I was buying something believing I was getting a good deal on the latest version.

Ahhh,   now that's a different matter.
 
In the past the updates have always been roughly 1 to 1.5 years apart, so once a version was a year or more old most folk not only expected a new version to be around the corner but started getting upset when it was "late".
 
One of the ways to get the software at a good discount was to deliberately wait for the "great deal of the year" emails and get it cheap.  The best ones being "Buy X2 NOW and get X3 FOR FREE".   Ultimately you got the same software that everyone else did but paid less for it.  The downside being that you were always at least a year behind with the latest "toys".
 
From now on there are no version releases,  just a continuous stream of updates.  The first update is a big one, having everything they've been working on for the past 12 months that would have been included had they released as X4.   As well as that, you get all the updates over the next 12 months, which would have been released as X5 in a years time.  So effectively it's a 2 for 1 one deal, on top of which they're discounting it AS WELL.
 
Looks like a great deal.

Paul P

mbarsott
You are telling me you know when a new release is about to come. Where is this information published?

There were countless "When is X4 coming out" threads here for the last few months.  Cakewalk was always tight-lipped on the matter, but old-timers could read between the lines.  There was actually quite an emotional buildup near the end of a cycle.  I guess that fun is now over and gone for good.
 

Yeah, it makes sense. It seems I was partially at fault for what happened. I almost never come to this forum. I guess the next time I find an email offer attractive I should come here and ask if someone knows if there is a catch 22.

Karyn

mbarsott
I feel cheated because three times I received an email with a relatively good deal to update Sonar just to discover a new version was released a few weeks later. So I was buying something believing I was getting a good deal on the latest version.

Ahhh,   now that's a different matter.
 
In the past the updates have always been roughly 1 to 1.5 years apart, so once a version was a year or more old most folk not only expected a new version to be around the corner but started getting upset when it was "late".
 
One of the ways to get the software at a good discount was to deliberately wait for the "great deal of the year" emails and get it cheap.  The best ones being "Buy X2 NOW and get X3 FOR FREE".   Ultimately you got the same software that everyone else did but paid less for it.  The downside being that you were always at least a year behind with the latest "toys".
 
From now on there are no version releases,  just a continuous stream of updates.  The first update is a big one, having everything they've been working on for the past 12 months that would have been included had they released as X4.   As well as that, you get all the updates over the next 12 months, which would have been released as X5 in a years time.  So effectively it's a 2 for 1 one deal, on top of which they're discounting it AS WELL.
 
Looks like a great deal.

Thank you for the informative answer, that was exactly the type of information I was expecting to get when I initially posted here. Sorry again for the previous rude post of mine.

mbarsott
Thank you for the informative answer, that was exactly the type of information I was expecting to get when I initially posted here. Sorry again for the previous rude post of mine.

To get the answer you want you have to ask the right question. 

I don't think anyone's mentioned it yet. If your update was just, a few weeks ago, send Cakewalk Sales and email and put your case to them. It wouldn't be the first time that Cakewalk have responded by giving someone the better upgrade price. Always worth a try, they are very reasonable.

Paul P

mbarsott
You are telling me you know when a new release is about to come. Where is this information published?

There were countless "When is X4 coming out" threads here for the last few months.  Cakewalk was always tight-lipped on the matter, but old-timers could read between the lines.  There was actually quite an emotional buildup near the end of a cycle.  I guess that fun is now over and gone for good.
 

Good point Paul, and it is those offers sent out that triggers those threads of excitement of a new release...everyone knows the offers mean end of cycle and new a one is on the horizon.
That said, as suggested several times you may want to contact CW...they have always been fair in the past depending on how much time has passed since your purchase.

Karyn

mbarsott
I feel cheated because three times I received an email with a relatively good deal to update Sonar just to discover a new version was released a few weeks later. So I was buying something believing I was getting a good deal on the latest version.

Ahhh,   now that's a different matter.
 
In the past the updates have always been roughly 1 to 1.5 years apart, so once a version was a year or more old most folk not only expected a new version to be around the corner but started getting upset when it was "late".
 
One of the ways to get the software at a good discount was to deliberately wait for the "great deal of the year" emails and get it cheap.  The best ones being "Buy X2 NOW and get X3 FOR FREE".   Ultimately you got the same software that everyone else did but paid less for it.  The downside being that you were always at least a year behind with the latest "toys".
 
From now on there are no version releases,  just a continuous stream of updates.  The first update is a big one, having everything they've been working on for the past 12 months that would have been included had they released as X4.   As well as that, you get all the updates over the next 12 months, which would have been released as X5 in a years time.  So effectively it's a 2 for 1 one deal, on top of which they're discounting it AS WELL.
 
Looks like a great deal.

He didn't change his question he added that he received 3 marketing emails. Nothing changed other than your attitude towards him. You called him a troll, he apologized for his response to the comment.
 
Rocky

I must be missing something with this no more version releases stuff. It sounds to me like just semantics. What's the difference between a new version release & an update? Isn't that what a version release was when it was just an added number to the version?  Just added features & bug fixes. Instead of selling Producer X4 they're calling it Platinum.
They'll either charge for an update in a year or two & still call it Platinum or call it Platinum Deluxe or something else but it will still be the same had they called it X5 Producer.  It's not like once you buy it you'll never have to pay for another upgrade. This is typical business as usual & I'm all for it, but I don't see it as anything really different than what we're used to except in name only. I've been a Cakewalk fan for about 25 years & love their products & will continue to upgrade when i feel the need so I'm not knocking them in any way. I'm a Cakewalk user because of their products & fair pricing, not because of their marketing & version naming strategy.          

The difference is that before (after the last patch) you waited till the next version to get a bug fixed even though some bugs were fixed by Cakewalk developers between the last patch and the new version.  Now you'll get the fixes as they're completed.  Cakewalk is also promising new stuff every month, so there won't be a 'hole'  of 6 -12 months before additions are brought to the core program.