To answer the original post:
 
1/ Can't really remember what version, but first used Cakewalk for MIDI some time around 94 / 95.
 
2/ None of this stuff is about loyalty for me. Though I would say it's something about trust, which is an overlapping, but different thing. I've been pretty vocal about feeling very burned by the whole v700 thing on these forums, and it would take a hell of a lot to get me to drop money on Cakewalk branded hardware ever again. Simply because I know they don't make hardware, and their last attempt to partner up and create hardware ended up being a bit of a mess.

But in terms of Cakewalk's software, which is what they actually do, it's reliably always been excellent stuff developed and supported by smart and helpful people.

I generally trust them to keep that up; and hence I'm still basically on board for buying upgrades as and when they come. If they start falling short on the software, then I don't think loyalty would come into it. And I don't get the sense that any of the individual people involved would want it to. All my interactions with Cakewalk staff give me the sense that it's a  company with a lot of people who want to earn your payments by doing a good job. And I respect that enormously.

I started with Sonar Home Studio 4 eight years ago this month.
I had been musically stagnant for several years, and had a Soundblaster 5.1 with the Creative Keytar. I had also just gotten my daughter a Radio Shack keyboard that had MIDI out. This got us curious about MIDI. So I did some exploring, and ended up with SHS4. The Edirol PCR-M50 I still use was the store demo used for that initial experience.
I'm currently running X3 Studio on an unsupported Vista system. There were a few minor hiccups, but it is running well and I am learning to like it.

I've been using Cakewalk for quite a while. I started well before the Sonar series but i don't go all the way back to DOS like some here. I remember getting a version called something like "Pro Audio 9" but that w2asn't my first version.
 
I wouldn't call myself particularly loyal though. Once Propellerheads Reason added the ability to record audio I started to use that a lot as well.
 
Not willing to leave Cakewalk though... Just bought X3 producer.

vintagevibe

Danny Danzi

vintagevibe
If X2 was your main DAW but they left too many bugs in it would you upgrade to get bug fixes?

I'll be impaled for this vintage, but no, I would not. As a matter of fact, as soon as that happens with a company with me, I leave them. That said, I might rethink that only because of how cool the bakers have been to anyone that approaches them like a human being. If you have tried tech support and you have tried email and bug reports etc and you are still unhappy, I'd try and talk to one of the accessible bakers you see on the forum if you can. I know that may not fix bugs, but you never know where the solid communication may land you.
 
I say that due to my own negligence. I like to think I know my way around Sonar pretty good. Many times I thought something was a bug....actually, I was POSITIVE it was a bug and it was pilot error. I'm not saying that's true in your case as I know several have complained about features not working right in X2. But honest when I tell you, it may not hurt to try talking to someone like Noel, Seth, Andrew, Daniel, Dan or Ryan. You just never know man...seriously. So though I'd definitely be upset, I'd see what could be done first before I jump ship. With any other DAW manufacturer, I probably wouldn't be as lenient.
 
-Danny

Well I already jumped ship to Cubase 7 because I need notation and Sonar will never have it.  My problem is I have many years of files I use for teaching and live performance that I need daily.  It would be far too big a project to get them all in Cubase so I'm pretty much stuck with some version of Sonar.  Most of the problems I have are things others have complained about.  I already have all the X3 add-ons but I need a program that won't drive me crazy every day.  I'd be happier if just my now time marker would stop disappearing!   So I either have to deal with being annoyed daily or pay $150 for bug fixes since X2 was abandoned.  Either way I'll feel like I've been screwed.

That's understandable. I too use other programs all the time, but Sonar is my go to recording program 98% of the time. Yeah I never had a need for notation and have either written in piano roll, staff view or just played things live on my keyboard and edited/quantized when needed. Sometimes you just have to use what is best for you to get the job done. I can and DO master in Sonar but I don't "suite master" in it. Studio 1 and Wave Lab do it so well, it's almost silly not to use them for stuff like that. So I can relate to an extent. I have 2 friends that are pretty bent about X2 not being fixed and X3 coming out in place of a patch. If I were in that camp I'd be upset for sure...but fortunately for me, for the way I use Sonar the things that have bothered others don't even show up for me. The whole take lanes thing...I never used. I either created multiple tracks (which to me was easier and worked just as well) or just used regular old "punch in until you get it right".
 
At any rate, good luck with Cubase...I hope that's working out great for you.
 
John T and Spacey: Great posts....I totally agree with everything you both said.
 
-Danny

Started with Home Studio 2004 XL.

I had Cakewalk 9, I think, or the last version anyway.  Just for a short while, then I upgraded to Plasma for the looping capability.  that was in 2003, I think, or there abouts.
 
And yea, if you are using your machine professionally, Danny has the right idea.  Don't upgrade on the music you are doing today.  break it in.  Here at home I'm finishing up a CD on X2, not X3.  I've got other new projects to play w/ X3 on, not mess up a CD that is just about ready to go.
 
But X3 seems to be working well, here, while it seems to be the least disruptive upgrade in the X series.
 
@

Somewhere lost in the 1990's . . . floppy days, was running Cakewalk 4.0E on DOS, synchronized up to a Tascam 688 Midistudio (8 track cassette deck) with a Roland midi interface, recording my Gibson Epiphone guitar.

My first Cake was 3.0 on 3.5" floppy.  But actually my first sequencing software was a program written by a guy in Canada...it was called "The Final Cut" and used it with a Music Quest 2Port SE midi interface.  That software had the piano grid across the top and the now time marker scrolled down...and was actually pretty fun to use.
 
But when I switched to CakeWalk (Twelve Tone Systems) I never looked back.  Upgraded to a Music Quest 8Port SE interface.  I also used CakeWalk for all my automation (volume and mute) using 4 Niche ACMs (Audio Control Module) to automate my Mackie 8 Buss with a Fostex B16 1/2" tape machine.
 
I definitely do not miss the hassle of having to do tape machine alignments and cleaning and demagnetizing heads.
 
The people who start out using DAWs today have no idea what it was like to use tape machine back in the day.  Those were the days....with the emphasis on WERE.... :) .

cakewalk pro audio 9.0
i think it was around 1999

Not on a little box.
Put your new version of Sonar on a great big box.
Wait at least a year after the current version of Windows comes out. After Service Pack 1. Or risk trying to enjoy creativity on a foundation of Win 98.
 
ME.
 
Or Vista.
 
(INSERT BARFING SMILEY HERE)
 
Get a feel for how the current version of Cake is doing. Watch here to find out what's stable and what still has growing pains.
Once all the threads are about how to do this or that, not about fixing major problems, and the bug fix versionshave slowed to less than one in 4 or 5 months, look around at people who aren't complaining, and see what hardware they are using.
 
Add between 25 and 50 percent more RAM and processor power. If you time it right, you'll pay less for this hardware than the ginnee pigs did when it was cutting edge (and still fulla bugs).
 
If there's been major upgrades in interface hardware, pick out a new one of those too, again, something thats working stable for a LOT of people.
 
Decide what you're going to do with the DAW, and choose your plugs. No bridges or work arounds.
 
Aim for a machine you can feel comfortable with for at least 4 years. Patch the OS, protect it as you will, patch that to date, install the DAW, install the pkugs, and test it for functionality quickly, while you are still in your return/warranty/gimme my money back window.
 
If its working reasonably well, lock it down, back it up, image it. If the hardware/OS/DAW stars don't line up in 4 years, you might have to make it last 8. I still have my DOS box and it ran fine last time I hooked it up.Ditto Win98SE, ditto XP w Sonar 7.
 
Either get it off the net, or be very selective about how and when you do allow it online. On and off, unplug the cable and turn off wireless. You don't have to patch an OS or security software for a box thats offline. If it runs today it will run tomorrow if you don't change it. Barring hardware failure and you can find replacements in these kinds of timeframes.
 
Place your new DAW close to the old one. Play with it. Watch the videos and learn the basic functions. Videos on your smartphone, tablet, laptop, anything but the DAW. You can pick up a new net machine for $250 and useuse an old monitor or multi task one of the DAW monitors, this is actually useful in many ways.You can buy an old Galaxy S for $50 to $100, run it on wireless and use the HDMI out as yet anither option.
 
Run some test projects on your new DAW. Fly a less critical current project across on DVD and see how it impirts, translates, and even exports to the old DAW. BE SURE TO CHANGE FILENAMES WHEN EXPORTING BACK TO THE OLD DAW, OR RISK VERSION CORRUPTION.
 
If you can, cut over to the new DAW with new projects. If you have to bounce back and forth, the abovevtest preps you what to expect. Use hard copies for transfer, or, swap/clone/image data drives. If you have to transfer via network, disconnect BOTH from the net and move everything at once.
 
Plan a cutoff date for the old DAW. Keep it hot and viable till you can't remember the last time you accessed it. Then pack it carefully, with monitor, spare mouse and KB, interface, OS, DAW, and plug discs, plus several writable empties, in a safe place.
 
Treat it like an old tape machine you may need again soon. In reality, it is even more important than that.