Hello, I am a beginning composition student and have only ever used finale. I've had a couple of friends introduce me into the wild and wonderful world of sequencing and I'm hooked. I'm going to purchase Sonar X3 but I don't whether to get producer or studio. Everything I enter will be done by midi keyboard and as far as instruments go I'll be purchasing virtual instrument plug-ins. Such as one of my friends who has East West Sound's Complete Composers Collection, Garritan, Vienna symphonic library. So when I see all the fancy doodads of Producer, it doesn't seem I'll really need them.
 
What are thoughts on this? Recommendations? I've seen the comparison chart and I just want peoples input. Thank you very much!!!

I would say start with the basic edition and upgrade later if you need the additional features.
 

If you'll seriously need the notation features of SONAR, be warned that they are rather modest.
Then again, I don't actually know how much better notation the rivals have.
 
After buying all those VSTs it doesn't add to your pain that much to upgrade, so I'd say start with Studio.

Don't forget that there are three editions of Sonar, not two.  Apart from "Producer" and "Studio", there's "(blank)", i.e. the no-name basic edition.
 

Thank you all very much your input!! It definitely seems easiest to start with just the basic ones. Either studio or 'ol no name. I'm thinking studio, but that may just be a fear of getting the bottom one.

Studio is the best bang for the buck by far. It has almost everything Producer has only minus a few special plug ins that if you don't think you'll need them then no reason to spend the money. Go to the Store page and they have all 3 side by side. 
 
http://www.cakewalk.com/Products/SONAR/Versions
 
And don't forget that Sonar x1LE comes free with a lot of recording hardware products. Like Audio interfaces which if you don't have one you will need for sure.

Copy that.
Since you will be using a MIDI controller and soft synths for your work, you are at the mercy of your sound card/interface.
It will take maybe 7 minutes for you to realize you need a decent interface.