I think comparing Cakewalk's model to monthly subscription is off in both ways that favor the consumer and don't. There are people still running 8.5 and happy with it. They will still be eligible for upgrade pricing despite not having paid a cent to cakewalk for years and have full access to software they paid for. While it's true that we don't own the software we theoreticallu have access to access to it perpetually.

dubdisciple
I think comparing Cakewalk's model to monthly subscription is off in both ways that favor the consumer and don't. There are people still running 8.5 and happy with it. They will still be eligible for upgrade pricing despite not having paid a cent to cakewalk for years and have full access to software they paid for. While it's true that we don't own the software we theoreticallu have access to access to it perpetually.

Who is talking about a monthly subscription anyhow ? What is wrong with having a annual subscription based system where users that may have stopped at 8.5.3 have a method to get their software "fixed" ? Say a hundred bucks a year ? No biggie.
 
Suppose I don't like the X DAW system (I don't). Suppose I bought it (I did) just to offer support Cakewalk in lieu of a 30 free trial. Well I installed it. I tried it. It does not work for my long established and reflexive workflow. Nor do I have any use for a modeled pro channel. Now suppose I really do like what had been developed up to and including 8.5.3 and I really want debugging to continue. I will without question continue to support Cakewalk that way. But I will not continue to support the X system. I don't like it. Just based on the forum activity over the last year or so alone, I suspect that I am part of a large group.
 
Since cpm software systems, that just how it has worked or works if a person want to continue with further maintenance , and I accept that. It was or is provided strictly for the purpose of maintaining the software - or to illustrate, as users discover bugs. Even the simplistic QuickBooks "PAYROLL" system has gone to the subscription model to just maintain updated tax tables. And that is not inexpensive.
 
The way I see it, the folks that are infatuated with X1 and X2 are doing nothing more that sticking it to the longtime users by demanding that we see it their way or hit the highway. Further Cakewalk has allowed that type of condescending conversation to continue since X1 was introduced.  I don't like it. And I think that if a person reads between the lines, it is obvious  they (Cakewalk)  must (behind the scenes) condone those posts.
 

pianodano


Who is talking about a monthly subscription anyhow ? What is wrong with having a annual subscription based system where users that may have stopped at 8.5.3 have a method to get their software "fixed" ? Say a hundred bucks a year ? No biggie.
 

 
The problem with that model is that 8.5.3 would get phased out the same. and your $100 bucks would go to a forced upgrade to X1 and the X2.  Cakewalk is not going to simultaneously continue developing multiple flagship products.  The reason we mentioned monthly subscription is because the OP referred to the monthly fee model that Adobe uses.  In any case an annual fee similar to Adobe model still removes the option to simply keep using the software you have .

Danny I'm sorry you see it that way. I have been a very vocal supporter of the X series. It started when X1 was first released. And the reason was what I saw as continued bashing due to unfamiliarity with it. But some was down right hostile that may have turned off possible other customers. 
 
With me I immediately saw X1's potential and climbed on board. I even made a thread that asked  those that are saying things were taken out what were they.  Name them. In the end I mentioned one and some one  found another.
 
To me its a lot like defending Vista. A great OS that was smeared by people that didn't think about it. We seemed to have the same thing happen with X1.
 
For me its a question of truth. You may not like X2 or X1 but not liking it is not the same as it being poor software. Or buggy.
 
There are many reasons why people post about the X series in a negative way. One is they just don't like it and will repeat talk  about bugs that are not real to prove their point. Sometimes I believe they are not seeing those bugs just repeating what some one else has said. 
 
The question must be easy to see in that why do so many bash it and reinforce that while those that like it seem to have no real show stopping problems. Could it be attitude? 
When we were dealing with Sonar 8 it was some what much the same. Now its become a serious problem as to how many feel a need to post negatively about it. 
 
How many times has some used the term fan boy in the past? In every argument there are at least two sides. I feel for those that can't get a stable X2 working. I felt the same way when we were using Sonar 8/ 8.5 too. I just remember that perhaps a little better than some. 
 
Also we have seen direct attacks on CW and its people for all sorts of reasons. Some want a new patch others want more presents of CW on this board. It never stops. No matter how often it is pointed out that this is a peer to peer forum they still demand some one from CW to answer all their questions.
 
Keep all that in mind and then see if what I do and many others do is so wrong? 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   

John
I abhor the idea.  

I agree John.
 
I recently took over a t-shirt printing business and was offered the opportunity to continue the subscription for Illustrator. After weighing the monthly cost of $29 (or $39 it was REALLY hard to determine which I qualified for) amounting to $360 for the first year vs finding a legit copy of CS6 for $449 it seems the full license will be "paid for" in 15 months but had I subscribed (assuming $29) from the 16th month on I would be paying $360/year for updates I may or any not need/want.
 
It's a sinkhole, I tells ya.

Well done.

mike_mccue
Well done.

dubdisciple

pianodano


Who is talking about a monthly subscription anyhow ? What is wrong with having a annual subscription based system where users that may have stopped at 8.5.3 have a method to get their software "fixed" ? Say a hundred bucks a year ? No biggie.
 

 
The problem with that model is that 8.5.3 would get phased out the same. and your $100 bucks would go to a forced upgrade to X1 and the X2.  Cakewalk is not going to simultaneously continue developing multiple flagship products.  The reason we mentioned monthly subscription is because the OP referred to the monthly fee model that Adobe uses.  In any case an annual fee similar to Adobe model still removes the option to simply keep using the software you have .

 
Sure, I get that 8.5 is phased out. Never to be re-released. I understand that. But what does that have to do with those users that would gladly pay a annual subscription fee that would be applied  towards continued maintanence of that series ?
 
I guess X1 fans just don't think that Cakewalk has probably lost a group (who really knows how large) of long suffering users that have annually paid for a "upgrade" simply in the hopes of having bugs in their existing version zapped and have a dislike of the X1 methodology.

Danny that could have been said back when Sonar came out. Many liked Pro Audio and wanted it to continue. I wonder how things would be if it had.  

pianodano, semantics aside, whether we are talking about 8.53, X1 or X2a, under the model that Adobe has introduced updates for previopus versions would cease and  you just get the normal bug fixes, you just get them spread out a little more similar to the weekly adobe flash or acrobat reader never ending updates.  Sounds much better in theory than actual practice.  For those of us that have a stable working version, constant updates can be a pain.  A prime example is those employing the CUDA hack for premiere.  Every time we get one of these minor bug fixes we have to reset things in premiere again.
 
You are also ignoring the fact that under the Adobe model there is no option to simply stop if you are satisfied with what you have. The fee is not to maintain stability of that series.  That's going to happen or not happen anyway and Adobe is going to abandon versions and features just like they always have. Imagine if you hate X3 and find X2 stable enough for your needs but Cakewalk tells you that you must keep paying a monthly fee in order to use X2 despite the fact they are no longer developing it?  That is a real and legitimate concern.  There are people now still using X1 because they don't find X2 stable enough.  They are not getting any new cool things for X1 but they are not be charged to stand pat either.