What is the alternative to Lifetime Updates?

I'm debating whether to buy into the Lifetime Updates for Sonar Platinum, but I feel as though I don't have enough information to make a decision.  Can anyone tell me what the alternative is for receiving updates?  Will there still be an annual update option or will that no longer be available, and at what cost?

I have recieved an email sayiny my 12 months are coming to an end and I would just like to continue paying monthly but the email only gives me an option and link to pay for lifetime updates, I only have 20 more days to go. I reckon I'll go for the lifetime updates, but not sure if monthly is an option going forward....

Hi Scook, here is a direct quote from the e-mail I recieved...
 
 30 days remaining in your SONAR Platinum Rolling Updates Membership   We hope you've been enjoying your SONAR Platinum Rolling Updates membership! Because of users like you, we've been able to shape our most powerful and efficient edition of SONAR ever, and we're not slowing down any time soon.

Unfortunately, it looks like your Rolling Updates membership expires in 30 days. You'll get to keep everything you've received during your membership, but you will stop receiving updates once this date is reached.

If you would like to continue receiving Rolling Updates for SONAR Platinum, simply renew your membership using the link below. For a limited time, you can get Lifetime Updates for SONAR Platinum. This means you'll continue to receive Rolling Updates, and you'll never need to renew or upgrade again!

aspenleaf
I'm debating whether to buy into the Lifetime Updates for Sonar Platinum, but I feel as though I don't have enough information to make a decision.  Can anyone tell me what the alternative is for receiving updates?  Will there still be an annual update option or will that no longer be available, and at what cost?

Rolling updates for Pro is $99 a year.  Plat was $149 previously most of the time, right?  
 
I would think it would be a fair assumption that the Plat yearly membership would stay at a price point higher than Pro going forward.  Of course I don't know for sure, but I'd be surprised if you don't really have enough to make the decision.
 
If you are in Plat now, audiodeluxe has the lifetime for $169.  And I think I was reading that Musicians Friend has it for $199 + you get the free gift of:  

Free with Purchase until: 09/30/16

CA-2A T-Type Leveling Amplifier

 
I thought the lowest price for a renewal previously was around $100 or so during special offer time, so the sub $199 lifetime should help make it a fairly straightforward choice.  

If you go the lifetime update route by default your rolling monthly payments just stop because you have now done a one time payment that superceeds the monthly payments? Sounds like a no brainer really?
 
I already went with the lifetime for Platinum annual so from what I understand going forward I will have no more Platinum annual payments to make anymore.
 
Keep in mind that that this lifetime update thing is for the core parts of Sonar. As far as I know it doesnt include all the extras outside of core. I imagine if they need updating it will need a separate pricing if one wants to upgrade these extra items. By that I mean likes of Melodyne etc.
 

aidanodr
If you go the lifetime update route by default your rolling monthly payments just stop because you have now done a one time payment that superceeds the monthly payments?

I think I remember seeing something on the site about needing to cancel the monthly payments after buying the lifetime update. 
 
As for the alternative to lifetime updates, for me I guess it will be dying. 

Read the FAQ http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3429473

So my membership just expired and I now just have a week to buy the lifetime upgrade.  I know the marketing suggests that I'll miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity but experience tells me if I don't upgrade now life will go on.  There will be other great deals in the future.  The coming soon updates I'm seeing look good but aren't game changers for me.  
 
My guess is future upgrade deals at this $150-$200 price point will include the core software updates plus the additional add-ons the "lifetimers" won't get....I've got a week to decide.    

Gregkonji
So my membership just expired and I now just have a week to buy the lifetime upgrade.  I know the marketing suggests that I'll miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity but experience tells me if I don't upgrade now life will go on.  There will be other great deals in the future.  The coming soon updates I'm seeing look good but aren't game changers for me.  
 
My guess is future upgrade deals at this $150-$200 price point will include the core software updates plus the additional add-ons the "lifetimers" won't get....I've got a week to decide.    

In answer to the OP and this post quoted the alternative is pay yearly or monthly for as long as you want the upgrades. Or pay once and have the same thing for ever. I honestly don't understand the confusion.
 
In the case above you can reup as you have in the past and when that has expired do it again or pay a little more and be done with it forever. There is something cool about not having to worry about future upgrades. With my lifetime membership they will come without me having to do a thing. What makes think you wont also have to pay for extra addons. It seems to me that you may have to pay for the upgrade and also pay for any new addons just as it is done today. Many Pro Channel modules are extra cost items. There is no reason to think you would be exempt for having to pay for those things. Just as we do now. 
 
I just can't see a controversy here or a reason to question it.   

Gregkonji
So my membership just expired and I now just have a week to buy the lifetime upgrade.  I know the marketing suggests that I'll miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity but experience tells me if I don't upgrade now life will go on.  There will be other great deals in the future.  The coming soon updates I'm seeing look good but aren't game changers for me.  
 
My guess is future upgrade deals at this $150-$200 price point will include the core software updates plus the additional add-ons the "lifetimers" won't get....I've got a week to decide.    

 
Lifetime updates will receive exactly the same as monthly or yearly updates..

jb101

Gregkonji
So my membership just expired and I now just have a week to buy the lifetime upgrade.  I know the marketing suggests that I'll miss out on a once in a lifetime opportunity but experience tells me if I don't upgrade now life will go on.  There will be other great deals in the future.  The coming soon updates I'm seeing look good but aren't game changers for me.  
 
My guess is future upgrade deals at this $150-$200 price point will include the core software updates plus the additional add-ons the "lifetimers" won't get....I've got a week to decide.    

 
Lifetime updates will receive exactly the same as monthly or yearly updates..

I've read the FAQ page:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Lifetime-Updates-and-SONAR-OS-X-Alpha-m3429473.aspx
They are talking about core software updates.  They talk about add-ons that at their discretion will be an extra cost.  Cakewalk will probably balance it to where some add-ons will be included in the core and some will be extra.  That balance will be determined to maximize profit.  It's a smart plan.  If they wanted they could reduce these core updates to bug fixes.
 
What I'm saying it's possible these extra non-core add-ons will come as a bundle deal for those not already in the update program.  I think it's possible in a year they'll offer deals where you can get the core updates for say $100 but for $200 you get the updates plus some yet to be announced add-on.  I haven't seen anything to prove this isn't possible.

I fully expect the lifetime updates to sound great until it doesn't. I see them separating 'core' from the other stuff that currently gets included like bundled VST Plugins and such so they can still milk their user base. Naturally there is no way this would be announced while the offer is on, it would get revealed afterwards.

Yes I've been with Cakewalk since Sonar 2 and they've never been underhanded.  I've just had it where I've gone from updating every year for about $150-$200 to only updating every few years for the same price.  The years I waited, I saved money and put the cash to other things in the studio.  I'm just trying to get the most bang for the buck and I'm pretty happy with the July Platinum Sonar that I've got (the updated comping in August's release does have me on the fence). 
 
If I don't renew, yes I'll miss out on the latest and greatest updates.  However if I wait a year, I'll get these updates anyway at either a cheaper price or with a cool new add-on.  I don't believe in 3 years from now I'll be kicking myself that I didn't get the lifetime upgrades when I had a chance.    

Having just purchased the lifetime upgrade myself, finally, my take on it is that the "extra benefit" this time around is not having to renew.  Extra $$ =  extra toys, even if over a period of time.   Not to mention continued updates which so far are well worth it for my needs.   And it just keeps getting better...
 

Gregkonji
Yes I've been with Cakewalk since Sonar 2 and they've never been underhanded.  I've just had it where I've gone from updating every year for about $150-$200 to only updating every few years for the same price.  The years I waited, I saved money and put the cash to other things in the studio.  I'm just trying to get the most bang for the buck and I'm pretty happy with the July Platinum Sonar that I've got (the updated comping in August's release does have me on the fence). 
 
If I don't renew, yes I'll miss out on the latest and greatest updates.  However if I wait a year, I'll get these updates anyway at either a cheaper price or with a cool new add-on.  I don't believe in 3 years from now I'll be kicking myself that I didn't get the lifetime upgrades when I had a chance.    

I'm with you on this one.  I bought SPlat for a 1-time fee, with 12 months of rolling updates.  When my time runs out, I don't plan on renewing.  I'll keep loving what I've got until my DAW becomes obsolete enough that I need a new product.  And when that happens I'll come back to Cakewalk for whatever version they're selling then.  
 
It's important to note one's recording practices and styles though; i don't think SPlat improvements would really benefit someone like me, who uses a DAW like a 2" tape machine with awesome editing capabilities.  Most of my stuff is played live in 1 or 2 takes.  I think the tweaks that will come will probably benefit other workflows, but not necessarily mine.
 
I've been with Cakewalk since HomeStudio2.  I upgraded to HS2XL, Sonar Producer, X1, and now SPlat.  I've gotten my money's worth with each of these products and the upgrade costs have been negligible.  I'm happy to keep this pattern going.