Anderton
privately held corporations generally seek to minimize tax obligations

This is why I believe bundling the mp3 license was dropped from SONAR. While not a government levy it still was a cash outlay the company wanted to avoid.

I want to own outright any software I buy; in other words, I don't want to have to pay for it to simply allow it to continue working.
 
Naturally, almost any software eventually becomes obsolete because operating systems change and exclude old, unsupported versions. Paying for upgrades is not the issue; I have done that many times and will continue to do so whenever it seems warranted.
 
However, I would mightily resent being required to pay periodically just to maintain the status quo: For example, paying for Programme X in November, 2014 and having to stump up again by November, 2015 or have Programme X cease to function.
 
My two bits.
 
 
 
 
 

cityrat
Fun thread    There's a lot of interesting responses.... In reality, I think that a lot of us sorta already are supporting a "maintenance" program and pay (mostly) a yearly $$ for the new versions - usually with enough new fun stuff that it's fun for everybody (win/win).  (Note I don't mean to disparage CW as charging for fixes - that's not what I mean and why I put it in quotes).
 
The key to me is that it's all voluntary, and the software I own.  Yeah, I know - it's a license, bla bla - but I don't expect someone to show up at my door to revoke it.
 
Again, the issue I have (and I know it's not in CW and may never be even considering) - whatever you want to call it - is any software that has to be paid up every month/week/whatever to run.   I don't own Audition or anything like it and never will (pun intended).   Stuff is so good now that I wouldn't have to - I would just miss out on the fun new stuff but so be it.  But maybe I'd get more done and figure out the 50% of stuff I have not even played with.  There's always options.  I still use and enjoy a copy of Adobe Framemaker 7.1 (2003) and will never upgrade due to obscene cost.  My version of VC++ is 2008.  My AutoSketch is 2004 - I use these on a semi daily basis and have not reason to upgrade.
 
I'm sure CW has the best interests of the users and will not do anything to jeopardize that.  And I didn't take the survey to mean they were planning (what I call) a subscription - pay by month.   CW's use of individualized serial numbers for easy install and authorization are rare (I hate challenge response and iLok) and are part of what I respect them for - and happily pay for my version updates to support. 
 

 Some of the older Adobe products are free from their website.  You can get an older version of Audition and Photoshop from them.  I wonder if their new business model of subscription base has a lot to do with losing their partnership with Apple.  

scook

Anderton
privately held corporations generally seek to minimize tax obligations

This is why I believe bundling the mp3 license was dropped from SONAR. While not a government levy it still was a cash outlay the company wanted to avoid.

Dropping a cost of doing business would increase the tax obligation if it created more profit. However, I think it's more likely Cakewalk applied the cost of the MP3 license toward more sexy/useful plug-ins.
 
Having every user pay a license fee for MP3 conversion made more sense when ways to convert to MP3 were less plentiful. But now every Mac and Windows machine can convert to MP3 and so can all the wave editors. I think I may even have an MP3 activation code for Sonar that's still valid...but I didn't bother activating it several updates ago, and never felt like I was missing out on anything.

You guys provide all kinds of examples that do not pertain. Given the many variations of subscriptions offered it is no wonder the young and restless jump to the end of the line and obstruct conversation by stating such examples as absolutes.
 
Most of us purchase a "yearly" Sonar version subscription for a renewal/upgrade price. And the software does not expire. If we purchase at the end of the cycle we get all the updates. But NO further support. (Sonar x3 has had 5 issues: a, b, c, d, e. over a period of a little over 6 months.)
 
I, and my clients, use software that required an initial fee, and then a support contract if desired. This software does NOT turn-in-to-a-pumpkin because the support contract has expired.
 
If we renew we get the updates/upgrades for the paid support period. This is more useful than a version subscription.
 
I am advocating CW provide support contracts for specified periods. I buy Sonar 4, and get 1 year (2 years,...) of all updates, AND upgrades. And the products do not stop working on the current OS for as long as I shall live.
 
This means I will get a FULL year(s) of support, not just 6 months. A better value for me. A better value for the company. Less stress on the releasing the next version for the holiday buying season (really? This works?).
 
Anyone should be able to purchase a subscription at anytime of the year, of whatever length offered. CW will benefit significantly. Because  potential customers know they do not have to wait for the next version to purchase/upgrade. Someone is more likely to buy Sx3 in March  (at full price: new/renewal) knowing they will get the all updates/upgrades, INSTEAD of waiting for the (probable) Fall version release. This will result in MORE revenue in March for CW.  No brainer here!  This is good for all of us.
 
Updates/fixes can be released as they are completed, up until the next version's release.
 
Less stress on everyone hitting the deadline for getting the next version out the door and then releasing 3 to 5 updates before the majority of bugs are fixed.
 
Less stress and more time for beta testing by beta testers,..
 
No need for CW dudes to spend time and money on sales and promotions,....
 
Everybody benefits.
 
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I am not a happy camper with w8, office 365,....  I hate that MS is nearly demanding MS accounts on local computers. (it is way annoying to get rid of MS account logons.)  I DO NOT allow my clients use online credentials to use their purchased computers, with their purchased software. I am amazed that no large companies have entered into billion dollar lawsuits to demonstrate privacy invasion, restriction of use, possible collection of personal and company secrets, by the insistence of the MS managers, using porn site techniques, to interfere with users setting-up and using their computers.
 
Anyone using an MS account to login to their purchased device is voluntarily giving ownership to the jerks at MS. They are evil.
 
Why has their not been a congressional investigation into these practices?
 
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Buying one magazine is not similar to purchasing a Sonar renewal. The reasonable likeness is to purchasing a year's subscription.  Which is what you do when you purchase most ALL software. These are version subscriptions.
 
I have a bunch of programs that I have not upgraded cuz the current version works for what I purchased it for. These programs include  a number of Sony programs that have NOT been updated. I may purchase upgrades if they provide usefulness.
 
CW's history has been about selling version subscriptions: get all updates until the next version is released for purchase. This has averaged about 14 months. (I think it was sonar 4 that was released in the spring, could have been s5??? and of course the 2 year wait for????)
 
 

I took the survey...

No.  It is just propaganda created by the far left.  After all, it is a mid-term election.  So, make sure you vote.

I heard it was the far middle and the extreme moderates!

I also took the survey. Avid is adopting some kind of subscription model that I don't understand to receive updates for some interval in the future. Adobe has a subscription model. The facts are that these companies have to pay their bills and be profitable between releases while development is ongoing. It doesn't thrill me but I've expected it ever since Adobe started doing it.

Harrison mixbuss also has an optional subscription plan as do some VST makers