Instead of getting a launch menu offering the saves I've made to my current project I'm now getting an internet redirect to download a new update for my "Cakewalk Sonar Platinum" software from Bandlab.  I understand that Bandlab is the new owner of the software but I have ignored this download for some time so let me explain the source of my resistance and perhaps someone could ease my concerns.
 
"A free Streamlined version"...  I paid for mine.  Nothing is free.  What begins as free ALWAYS ends up costing you and any assertion on my part that I have spent thousands on Kontakt, instruments, and processors to make this system work will be "My Problem" when Bandlab demands a return for their investment.  The word, "streamlined," used to be a good one but it has lost its innocence.  It used to mean allowing you easier and better access to what you wanted but now its code for removing options and choice to allow the developers to give us what they want to give us regardless of what we want.  I really fear that the new update will remove things I use and need rather than give me extra stuff.
 
I do not own a mobile phone...  Let me rephrase that.  I WILL NOT OWN A MOBILE PHONE, a tablet, or any other push technology.  I don't like the way they have ushered in yet another addiction to "the Age of the Rude, the Shallow and the Stupid" and  turned us into slaves.  I like being unavailable and away at my discretion.  I don't use "the Cloud" for anything and I have no need to "Collaborate" with anyone.  Now, I realize that many musicians that use this DAW will want many of these features and that is fine but will I still be able to use it with Kontact 5, Spitfire audio files and others, away from the internet to create MY music as I have done?
 
I've been burned before.  I was an owner of Logic Platinum Audio for PC and I knew this software completely.  All my music was in the Logic Audio Format and then it was bought out by Apple.  My upgrade agreement was pronounced null and void unless I spent thousands on a high-end Mac and went back to "computer school" to learn a new computer environment.
 
So while Bandlab promotes its new features that I have no need for, sound more like buzz words for the social engineering of conformity and are saying I wasted my money on something that's now free, I want to know what I will lose by downloading this "not quite up to scratch to charge money for" upgrade.              
    

CbB as it sits today is the core SONAR program release for November, plus some additions. It being "core" needs to be understood, since it is not the "Platinum package" but rather the core program, which is essentially an "upgraded Home Studio" version (which was also given away after the abandonment by Gibson).

As far as functionality, it will "socket with" any other programs/modules that were visible inside Platinum.

Mettelus, please excuse my ignorance.  I know I harbor a lot and that's a good starting position as far as I can see.  So this new download "is not the "Platinum package" but rather the core program, which is essentially an "upgraded Home Studio" version".  Okay, so now I am panicing.  The feature lists of more expensive versions of software are divided into two categories:  "What it can do" - functionality and connections, and, "How much it can do" - numbers and size.  The latter could be the number of tracks, files, instruments, etc or the size of these and other settings.
 
So, I'm thrilled that the functionality will allow the same connections I had before, but is my downgrade to the Home Studio version going to limit the number of tracks, instruments or ANYTHING I had in the Platinum Professional DAW?  Since I am a cellist composing symphonic orchestrations I could lose Gibson and not even realize it so not every loss is a problem and I do need to keep up to date to mesh with the PCs constantly updating its drivers.  However, I really do need to know exactly what I'd be losing in order to go forward.  Thanks.  

djwolf,

If you install Cakewalk by Bandlab without uninstalling your previous Sonar Platinum
the new version will not be limited at all. You can use all your Platinum features in the new version
as long as you keep both installations (the old Sonar and the new Cakewalk).

It will just run better and crash less.

In order to install the program you will temporarily need an internet connection for your PC.
After it's installed, you won't need the internet anymore.

You'll also get the new replace track template feature,
which is cool for VST orchestration.
 

The only way you will lose anything is if you make the dumb move of uninstalling Platinum.
 
Assuming you don't do this then you'll have access to everything you enjoyed in Platinum with the new version.
 
Also, please remember Platinum will not get any more updates, CdB will

As has been said, there is nothing to stop you having both installed and that is in fact what you should do if you intend to use the new version as it will maintain the ability to use everything that you have now. *
 
* However,  the bandlab version is 64 bit only, which may be or may not prove to be an issue for you. I've never managed to get Miroslav Phiharmonic, for example, to work in 64 bit Platinum, so I'm sticking with Platinum (where I can use it in 32 bit version) until such time as bandlab offers a compelling reason to use their version which tbh I don't expect to be any time soon.

I have been a Cakewalk Pro Audio/Sonar X*/Platinum user for 20-odd years.  In that time I have changed machines several times and each time simply downloaded an re-installed my setup.  And the company has changed hands a couple of times before, but each time the whole shebang was included in the deal.  The Bandlab transfer is obviously quite different.  I appreciate that it's a way better outcome than it could have been, but it is still worrying -  I have just downloaded my Cakewak product/serial# list and there are 52 entries!  I get it that we're OK while the Gibson servers are still running, but does anyone more technical than me know if we can protect our systems in the event that they stop?  

Cakewalk by Bandlab is not Home Studio - that is misleading. It is Sonar with all the add-ons removed so it's like you just installed the Sonar DAW only and didn't install all the plugins and everything that came with it. So it is the core software with a new name and new updates.
 
If you install it, but also keep Splat installed with all its add ons, you can run Cakewalk by Bandlab and it will be just like running Splat with new updates and no loss of functionality.
 
Looking at the future, Bandlab will be migrating all Cakewalk user accounts to their new system. I imagine at that point you will be able to download and activate your legacy Cakewalk products, including those that you got with Platinum and you probably won't have to keep the old Sonar Platinum installed to use them with the new Cakewalk DAW. There's a huge amount of transitional work they have to go through first to make that happen though.
 
Looking further to the future, Bandlab makes the core Cakewalk DAW available for free, and will most likely sell the additional add-ons as optional extras to new users who don't already have them. I expect they will also continue to develop new add-ons that they can sell.
 
So in short, you are not losing anything that you had before. You are only gaining through new updates, features and bug fixes. Cakewalk will help drive Bandlab's music platform and will probably be a great marketing asset for Bandlab. Because Cakewalk is a high end, professional DAW available at no cost, it is likely to become the most popular, most supported DAW out there which will make Bandlab a market leader and help them corner the market to sell Cakewalk add ons that will fund development going forward. The DAW conspiracy theorist community don't seem to be able to grasp how this situation is probably the best thing that could ever have happened to Cakewalk and its users.

Your writing as if the company you dealt with still exists and is subject to update/ upgrade policies even though you admit yourself its a new company so you cant trust them to provide the "Same" program... Sorry too say, your wrong it is the same program udated and developed by the "Same" group under a "new" name and ownership and as has been stated without 3rd party content. It's as simple that and "Free" to install or even not install. Your plugins will still work, there are "No" limitations or time limits.

Sorry for all the "Quotation" marks but only 7 months ago we were told that Sonar was dropped and ceased developement, which you probably know so in emphasis I went a little overboard. Could be a little impatience but hopefully you wont take offence.

I am glad BandLab picked it up, If they hadn't we wouldn't be having this discussion and be stuck with what we got and no way to continue in the developement cycle so for the umpteenth time thanks are deserved and appropriate.

It's your choice though, I suggest you at least try it out.