Perspective: The new licensing options and changes!

Here's how I see the new changes!

(A more opinion-filled text-wall than I intended, but some perspective was needed I think!)
 
There is no real major change in the way Cakewalk licensing works.
You purchase the software at a set rate, and own the license for that version outright after payment.
Just like always.
The differences are just as simple.
Cakewalk has added a Pay & Play option!
 
That means you can get the newest version at retail or upgrade price, in full up front, or make monthly installments for 12 months until the license is paid in full, and is yours outright.
No credit check!
No Interest!
No Fee!
No Application!
No fat first or last balloon payments!
No Bovine Scattology!

There is no secret club or handshake needed!
No membership!
No subscription!
The Pay & Play option is just an added way to buy the software, for anyone.
 
By adding the new purchase option, Cakewalk has made it even more accessible, and easier to own and use your preferred Sonar Version.
That helps the hobbyist and pro user alike, both now and down the road!
We'll look at those benefits and the cons in a moment.
 
Another big change has been made to make the process of managing your account and installing the software even easier, with the introduction of the Cakewalk Command Center!
You can install all your connected products and patches directly from there, manage VST locations, and more, with the ease of automation and without bouncing through download pages and folders.

There's not a lot of surface-slope to that, (visible downside), as far as I can see.
It simply means as an artist and musician I fiddle less with setting up to capture music, and get to fiddle more making and recording it!
Guess why I'm here ... it aint to have computer problems, I've got windows for those.
"I just want to create man"!

Now, about those additional benefits I mentioned .. the pros and cons of these changes.
Even small changes on such a large scale as this is can be difficult, both for the users and the staff, but Cakewalk has really taken its users to heart on this one.
As more and more major players in software move to member-management, rental agreements, and "cattle-gate" processing, Cakewalk wants you to be in command of your software and your community, that they continue to want you to own the license once it's paid for.

They don't make you use the command center, they highly recommend it, as do I, a simple crustatious pion, because it is just easier and adds value to the system.
The more it's used by us "users and abusers of data streams", the more it will grow and get even better I'm sure.

The same goes with the actual software products Cakewalk and their partners creates ... the more users who has access and can afford and use Sonar, the more it will grow with more options for us audio-philes and wav-pervs.
There was a time that I worried about Cakes future as a serious player in the market, but I came back to them with X1 and I'm glad I did.
 
PROS:
More users is a big pro for me choosing software as complex as a DAW, and being able to stick by them and become a master at their creation, so I can master my own!

I can Pay & Play with the full-version of Sonar at my leisure, and keep it as long as I want.
As always, when its paid for according to schedule I keep it, along with add-ons that go with that edition.
No credit checks, fees, applications, or interest payments .. those are big pros.
If I choose NOT to pay for it, I still can revert back to my previous full edition! ... Still a pro in my book because I have a choice, and no credit hassles or fees!!

Cakewalk has always been good with supporting their software and keeping patches up to date.... but now they will be under even more pressure to produce new toys for us to throw in our bag of tricks. Could be a big pro!
The new command center to help manage my account and software .... pro!
The new website-system and store upgrades are just bonuses.

CONS:
To be fair, and keep perspective, I'm going to make this list, but it may be harder to populate it ... maybe you can help!

The one big con I can braincell at the moment is that when a new edition is being released, patches for the old version may or may not continue, at least in the same form.
At first notes that sounds awful ... but that is how the software world operates anyway, nothing new there.

In the case of Sonar, having new editions being constantly cooked-up by the bakers at Cakewalk far outweighs the need for a patch, IMO, and maybe this con should be slid up into the "Pro list", but it is an issue for some, and a talking-point for others, either way it is and will remain one to be seen.

If Sonar went the way of Adobe, or some big video editor developers I deal with, by requiring a membership fee to rent the software, that would be a con ... and I would be gone already.
But that is not the case ... Sonar is just leading the way by offering a way to purchase the program that is a one-of-kind model in the DAW business as of now, to make it better, and more assessable to the masses.
I like the new plan and model, and I hope they keep it that way without membership, and we can all be more successful at what we do!


FTR, I'm neither staff, or affiliated with Sonar, I'm just a serious user who saw a need for clarification.