I have been on the fence about upgrading from Professional and Platinum--a newbies delusion! However, while on the fence I thought of something: Could a person spend the money for the first year of monthly fees, to pay monthly for Platinum, totaling about $360.00 and get what they really need to make their professional set-up perfect for them. I would love hear some ideas of how you would spend the money if you were in your own situation asking the same question, newbie or not.
 
 

It's not a subscription model.  You pay for a version of Sonar and after 12 months it's yours to use as is.  

mortificatio
I have been on the fence about upgrading from Professional and Platinum--a newbies delusion! However, while on the fence I thought of something: Could a person spend the money for the first year of monthly fees, to pay monthly for Platinum, totaling about $360.00 and get what they really need to make their professional set-up perfect for them. I would love hear some ideas of how you would spend the money if you were in your own situation asking the same question, newbie or not.
 

It's something you've got to weigh up yourself, work out the cost of ownership perhaps on an annual basis and compare it with competing products you might be interested in and see how it stacks up.
 
Compare monthly fees with an annual subscription, compare the cost of a competing product plus the price charged for periodic upgrades over a few years and decide for yourself whether you are getting the best bang for the buck that gives you more of what you want.
 
Whatever sales model is used there's an annual cost of ownership involved that will depend on how often you plan to keep your software updated.  The good news is there's plenty of good stuff to be had to fit any budget these days.

mortificatio
I have been on the fence about upgrading from Professional and Platinum--a newbies delusion! However, while on the fence I thought of something: Could a person spend the money for the first year of monthly fees, to pay monthly for Platinum, totaling about $360.00 and get what they really need to make their professional set-up perfect for them. I would love hear some ideas of how you would spend the money if you were in your own situation asking the same question, newbie or not.
 
 

I am confused by your post. Do you have Professional, or Platinum or ? If you have either of the first two upgrading it for another year will not cost anything close to $360. If you are asking whether the $360 you would have to pay to upgrade (assuming for Platinum from an older Sonar? I haven't checked the store for these options recently) is worth it then as JonBuoy says you would have to figure that out for yourself. I feel Platinum offers great value but so much depends on what you do and need.

If you're talking about Producer X3, you can upgrade to the annual plan right now for $126 (From Platinum it's even less). 
 
There's not a lot else you can buy for $126 that will make a huge difference in your setup, so I think in that regard your question becomes moot.

mortificatio
Could a person spend the money for the first year of monthly fees, to pay monthly for Platinum, totaling about $360.00 and get what they really need to make their professional set-up perfect for them. 
 

You already have what you really need to make professional-sounding records.
 
It's not perfect, nor will it ever be, regardless how much money you spend on upgrades and add-ons. The end result you're pursuing requires a far more expensive investment: your time. Lots of it. 10,000 hours by some estimates.
 
So save your money for your children's education. Because then, eventually, they'll go away to school and leave you alone to make records.
 

I understand some of the undercurrent. I am new to all this at 58 years old. I have dabbled very little for 20 years but completed nothings really. I have Reason 8, Sonar x3 Professional, and Presonus one 3 Artist. In some ways I am trying to figure out the one I really like. I appreciate everybody's feedback.

Well, at age 58 I'm guessing keeping the kids off your back isn't too big a problem anymore. More likely, it's all of life's other nagging nuisances that intrude on your ability to immerse yourself in a hobby. Like a job, a spouse, or yard work. 
 
Step 1: prioritize. If you fritter away any time at all watching sports on TV, stop it now. Sure, it's fun and social. But just imagine if, on your deathbed, you could get back all those hours - would you spend them watching the game?
 
And turning off the television is the easy part. Cutting back on sleep, food and personal hygiene, now that takes commitment! But it can be done and we're all here to support you, Mark.
 

Bit,
 
Good advice for one so young...(will hit 70 before 60 if I don't drink myself to death first)
 
All about priorities, although en mass, we don't realize there are priorities until it is too late.
 
Time is endless for a 6 year old, but the longer we go thru time, the faster it recedes. (Pink Floyd tried to tell us). Anyone reading this will face the Big Kahoonah sooner or later. There is no cure, there is no alternate, no escape. All who arrive will depart.
 
Old fart advice which most will laugh at (for now anyway).
 
Dump the TV. Such a cancerous waste of your time and vital energy. Degrades your focus. Degrades your purpose. Heavily obscures the reason you are really here for. Dulls the mind and senses into oblivion, which is where they want you to be.
 
Unplugging the toxic idiot box will result in about 2 weeks to a month withdrawal. Then life gets more clear, more clean.
 
Do CNN for news and NOAA for weather on a computer as needed.
 
Life has got a higher purpose than waiting for the next American Idol rerun.
 
John