True... Definitely a technicality there :)

Get your point...

Well if you really want to be specific I should have written 'no longer supporting: or something... Just like with XP.

My DAW runs Windows 7, but I have two Windows 8 machines. I updated one of those to Win 8.1. The first time I went to use the Calendar app I got a notice saying that I needed to log on to my computer using a Microsoft login or some such, so my appointments could be stored in the cloud and I could access them on any Windows 8.1 machine (I don't use Calendar for appointments -- I just wanted to know what day it was). This in turn connected me to SkyDrive, Skype, Outlook.com and so on, none of which I am interested in
 
I understand -- Microsoft wants to know who I am, what I'm doing, and what ads to push my way. But I don't want to be tracked like that. It's not that big a deal, but it's one reason NOT to update. In past years for security reasons I have taken any and all patches Microsoft pushes, but I might have to take a closer look at future updates.

PS: After being on this forum for seven years, I am proud to announce that this is my 25th post, so next time I get to use links!

Larry Jones
My DAW runs Windows 7, but I have two Windows 8 machines. I updated one of those to Win 8.1. The first time I went to use the Calendar app I got a notice saying that I needed to log on to my computer using a Microsoft login or some such, so my appointments could be stored in the cloud and I could access them on any Windows 8.1 machine (I don't use Calendar for appointments -- I just wanted to know what day it was). This in turn connected me to SkyDrive, Skype, Outlook.com and so on, none of which I am interested in
 
I understand -- Microsoft wants to know who I am, what I'm doing, and what ads to push my way. But I don't want to be tracked like that. It's not that big a deal, but it's one reason NOT to update. In past years for security reasons I have taken any and all patches Microsoft pushes, but I might have to take a closer look at future updates.

PS: After being on this forum for seven years, I am proud to announce that this is my 25th post, so next time I get to use links!

http://www.infobyte.hr/blog/337/windows-8-1-preview-how-to-install-without-microsoft-account-skip-microsoft-account/
 

Larry Jones
My DAW runs Windows 7, but I have two Windows 8 machines. I updated one of those to Win 8.1. The first time I went to use the Calendar app I got a notice saying that I needed to log on to my computer using a Microsoft login or some such,

If you followed the default setup for Win 8 or 8.1 you set your machine with an account that requires Microsoft Live ID, but you probably do not want to re-install the OS just to change this perverse behavior. You can pretty easily add a new local account to your current installation and log on to that account without using a Microsoft Live ID or going to the cloud every time you log in.
 
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-change-to-a-local-account-in-windows-81/#.
 

Cactus Music
It's not just that Cakewalk will from now on ignore the existence of XP and it's user base, I noticed when downloading the drivers for my Scarlett 6i6 that there where no drivers for XP . So in a few years our beloved audio interfaces will be the issue more likely than our software. 
 

Okay, I hear that. My EMU 0404 is still chugging along on XP drivers under W7.
 
But, if we can go by how long it took for MS to drop XP, W7 will be supported until 2022, plenty of time for me to figure out what I'll upgrade to.

rontarrant
But, if we can go by how long it took for MS to drop XP, W7 will be supported until 2022, plenty of time for me to figure out what I'll upgrade to.

In MS's view they made a mistake in supporting XP too long. It ate into their profits..... So don't count on it. They are already learning how apple like strategies will keep customers on the cool aid.

I would expect subscriptions within the next 10 years maybe like adobe does.

I'm sorry folks ,
I'm simply having a hard time understanding the logic here 
I thought that in the real world any gigantic company that puts out a product that the consumer simply does not care for or want, at least in my mind or so  i thought ….
that they would have to abide by that fact and accordingly  adjust themselves to providing something the customer really wants ?…if they want to stay in bizznez ..
Yes ? NO ? 
whats next, if every company out there decides to do bizznez  like M$
will I  have to sign up with the Gibson guitar company and buy a subscription just to play my Gibson R 8 Les Paul ? 
i thought that was covered up front with the 3 grand it cost  
(now I do know that I have to pay for strings and picks )
 
as ridiculous as that might sound to some of you I can assure you that  M$  and what they are trying to do sounds twice as ridiculous to me  
 
 
 
Kenny

Kenny what in your mind is MS trying to do?

I know John it really  does sound like I'm a little out there …I'm not 
 
it's not like MS is trying to do anything to me , it is simply the amount of extra BS I have to put up with just to run windows
 
I really do not care one bit for Windows 8 …I've said this before and I'm not looking to be contentious
the simple fact of the matter is,
the only reason why I have a Win 8 computer is to run a current version of SONAR X 3 PE in a 64 bit OS 
for me it is really that simple ,
 
before that I spent a lot of time running SONAR 6 PE on XP and in many ways I was very happy ...
I had a beefed up computer that I had made for me  at the time by a custom builder in LA 
this machine had components like a much heaver duty power supply a bunch of other tweaks and it was configured strictly for music creation 
I had my choice of 2 PCI sound cards onboard, an M Audio 1010lt and a Audiophile 192 …..both operated w no conflicts what so ever .
granted they are mid grade cards , but they have served me well even to this day ...
 
I've kept this machine off the net and it has been running strong w out a glitch for over 8 years ….I still use it often 
 
now since I wanted to upgrade my SONAR to X3 and run in a 64 bit OS , I wanted to get the current M S OS that was available …Win 8 
 
in general as an OS ,
I find Windows 8 to be  very intrusive in even respect and I don't appreciate that fact that this  OS acts just like somebody's mother in law that decided to move in with me just to nit pick me to death  
 
every peice of musical gear that I own is  meant to serve me …not the other way around
every guitar , amp , pedal , and music creation  tool I use must have the ability to become transparent 
for me thats how it is …with music software i have to keep honing my chops to get there ….I'm slowly getting there   
 
OK now I've done my best to adapt and work around some of the things I have a beef with I got used to the difference in work flow and as an OS W 8 is pretty snappy and does most basic tasks well …
I will give it that for the moment ….
 
most of the cr&p that's in W 8 I simply do not want nor do I have a desire to even tolerate …..
all the social apps , Skype, the maps…the app store ….anything that has nothing to do with my music creation 
has absolutely no use for me and I  have no intention of using my computer for any of that ...
some of that I have disabled and I've done everything I can to set my preferences to keep that stuff at bay ...
 
 
to use X 3 , I had to buy a new machine w W 8 , I also had to go out and buy an interface , 
I bought a Focusrite 2i4  because my  perfectly good 2 sound cards are absolutly useless on my new machine
then I had to buy my upgrade  to my current version of SONAR to X3 ...
sure this may be the price we all pay at some point or another ,   for me this all was a considerable amount of money to have to lay out just to catch up to SONAR X3 
 … I had the desire to do that so I went in and did it because I wanted to  
 
I have no regrets about the SONAR end of things I'm very happy w X3  
 
I'm typing this on my Mac , this happens to be my internet machine 
I have have a ton of Music software on this thing which also happens to include the full licensed to me retail boxed version of Logic Pro 9  all  9 DVD's  worth of content and then some ...
 
lets just say for the sake of the conversation that if I didn't want to be using Cakewalk software I wouldn't be using Cakewalk ….
I don't have to , I choose to 
I feel that I have demonstrated an ample commitment and desire to continue my association with what SONAR can do for me and my music by upgrading  Windows to the current OS ,including my hardware , computer  and Music software ...
 
I do not want my DAW on the net unless it is an absolute nessesity to upgrade my music software ….
granted Melodyne , XLN ,  Waves , and Native Instruments all have installers that I have to keep on my machine 
and when Cakewalk comes out w a patch fine I can go there ….
that's all I'm willing to put up with …..
 
I simply have no faith nor do I have the least bit of trust in MS ….
I don't want patches I don't need ,,,
I don't want fixes that will do back door preference changes on me where I have to spend time trying to fix things I didn't want ….
 
I'm somewhat sensitive about these issues ,
the simple reason for that is I generally prefer to have 2 computers w the same OS and music software on it ...
on my  DAW , my primary objective is to use it to create and experiment with music and I have to depend on it being totally reliable ...100% of the time …that is a lot to ask and so far that has been my experience
 
I like to have a back up machine with the same OS that has at least enough spec to be able to run most of the music software that I'm working with …
on the back up I scale things back so I don't waste and use up my licenses ...
the back up is the Guinea pig  
thats always the machine I update , try demo's on and use as a general all purpose internet / work station DAW….
after going through 3 back up machines already I'm very cautious about what I do and how I do what I do ...
so ,  lets say part of this is a money thing ….. not having a back up machine …at some point I will solve that issue 
 
I simply just want to run SONAR X3 as my DAW and keep my DAW off the net 
 
now John , please tell me,  what have I not made clear to you in my explanation ?
 
I can assure you that  I am not the only person in the world that doesn't care for Windows 8 and if I was it wouldn't change a thing in my book 
 
I AM A CREATIVE MUSICIAN  
 
Kenny