cowboydan
I do agree with all of you and what you have posted. Maybe my OP didnt come across the way I wanted it to.
I just feel sorry for some of the late X2 users buying the software only to discover that there will be no development of the software and then having to choose to pay another amount of money for the upgrade.
A lot of the users do not readily have the money to upgrade and had saved up to buy the X2 with better expectations. 
 
Danny

If someone buys SONAR X2 at retail, we're offering free upgrades to SONAR X3 between 9/1/2013 and 10/31/2013. More details here: http://www.cakewalk.com/page.aspx/Purchase-SONAR-X2-at-retail-and-get-free-SONAR-X3-Upgrade
 
We don't sell SONAR X2 direct anymore, so really the only way someone should be able to obtain it at this point is from another vendor. So for whatever it's worth it really it shouldn't be a problem moving forward. In fact I'm sure many will probably take advantage of blowout sales and get X3 in their hands for even cheaper. If someone upgraded to SONAR X2 relatively recently but prior to those dates, then they very well most likely got a killer deal on it (many people got SONAR X2 Producer in their hands for $49). 
 
With that being said, SONAR X2 is still a great product and we assist people every day with it and are more than happy to continue doing this. People just need to elaborate on what they need help with. They do this with us directly all the time every day and the vast majority of customers that we work with were and are extremely satisfied with SONAR X2. :)

"This forum, to me, is the absolute best asset to Cakewalk... the bakers DO read these posts, but do not always respond."
 
And sometimes they do :) Thanks Ryan

I had X2a and was not entirely pleased with the whole enchilada. In the end though I ate well for about 10 months. There are still plenty of good things to say about X2, it's just that there appears to be even more good things to say about X3.
 
And I would agree with the post pointing out that if an X2 user is having an issue there are plenty of peers here on the forum willing to help out. I would also say that to the best of my knowledge Cakewalk Technical Support is still supporting X2.
 
Just my $0.02
 
Regards,

John
Danny that assumes that all X2 users were unhappy. I wasn't unhappy and I got good value for what I paid for it when it was first released. 
 
The sour grapes we see in these posts forget that in total the few that did have trouble were not the vast majority. Now that a new version has taken our attention and received  good reviews it is a little boorish to harp on and on about an obsolete version.
 
Yes it is a shame that some felt they were not given due process; that they did not get a fully working version. But that is not the case for most of us. I am sorry for this. But this is a peer to peer forum and all you are doing is posting to your fellow users. There is nothing we can do about it. 
 
   

Ouch!!! "obsolete version", how quickly they move on ;)  Its not obsolete if they still provide tech support BTW.
Glad the basic tone on the forums indicate its going well. Hopefully will be able to allocate the cash for the upgrade at some point soon.

that's not how they roll geet...
 
Small team, concentrate on current v. for 1/3 of year, then move onto next version. Bakers need to eat too...

Yes... definitely no X2b coming but what I meant is X2a is not obsolete. OS Still runs it, tech support will still take your call on it.  We're still good.
 
 

In 12 to 18 months, a new version of Sonar will enter the market place once again. This has been a steady pattern for over the last decade. X3 will be yesterday's version and the next release will be better than the one before it. If the company doesn't continue to develop, it declines. To develop, it must keep a cash inflow. Start putting $10 a month away now and don't be surprised in a year when X4 is released and no more updates come to X3.

I will keep my copy of X2a operational as well. It always worked great for me and will continue to be used as a back up to X3. X1 is now out of use for me.

Ryan Munnis [Cakewalk]
the vast majority of customers that we work with were and are extremely satisfied with SONAR X2. :)

I was one of those customers, but I love X3 even more... 

I think we nee to realise that software development is way ahead of its release cycle. I would be surprised if they were not already well on the way to what X4 will be. Along with that they will have interim goals for various updates that usually include not just fixes but some smaller new features that perhaps weren't ready at full version release time.

There will always be a group of people who will risk buying the last iteration of a version because they buy late in the cycle. Sonars history is that most updates occur in the first 6 months of the annual cycle with a further 6 months or so till next version.

You can be sure that Gibson had nothing at all to do with the X3 release, in fact we are yet to hear an official announcement declaring that the intention to purchase has been completed and become reality. I've stated my opinion several times and that is that X2a was a fork in the coding road and continue developing what was essentially a useable and stable platform for most users was pointless considering the depth of coding that was required for VST3 and ARA implementation.

So it is sad that some got "burnt" but it's the same story every year. As the Cakewalk staffers have said, anyone who upgraded to X2 late in the cycle likely got it a heavily reduced price and any new users getting in on the ground floor with the full version will be eligible for a reduced upgrade as is any current user.

I mean there was someone on here a while ago claiming they were due special consideration for an x3 upgrade as they had just bought x2 a week before the release. They paid $49 for x2. Now if you had skipped x2 and gone from x1 to x3 you would pay $199, same cost. Of course I'm talking at the Sonar Producer level.

cowboydan
I do agree with all of you and what you have posted. Maybe my OP didnt come across the way I wanted it to.
I just feel sorry for some of the late X2 users buying the software only to discover that there will be no development of the software and then having to choose to pay another amount of money for the upgrade.
A lot of the users do not readily have the money to upgrade and had saved up to buy the X2 with better expectations. 
 
Danny

Hi Danny. Are you having problems with X2? I don't think it needs any further development. THe further development is X3. Kind of like getting an iphone 4, 5 etc. Just need to decide if its worth it. I personally have upgraded every year since the beginning of Cakewalk (except for ８ I think) but not sure if I will upgrade to X3-researching now. Just for the record, its about this time every year that they come out with a new product--of course don't quote me on that one. Gibson just bought the company. If you are having problems I understand that if you post in the X2 forum you won't get as much attention, but there is an option to PM each of the members by putting your over the members name. I have produced many songs and clients with X2--its a good product. I agree with whoever said it that the forum alone is worth the price--of course $150 right after upgrading does hurt, but as mentioned, you can still get help with X2.
Cheerio