i gotta say it.  Even though i have commented on this subject, there are far too many topics about this same topic.  i have to catch myself at times assuming that if it were implemented (and the ydid not implement it despite asking about it on surveys prior to X3) it would be like the Adobe model or some of the high end corporate models for software.  i think I'm going to wait.  If everyone responded like they have on this board, I'm confident cakewalk knows that model won't fly.  i suppose they have to at least do some research.  shame on myself and others for having a conniption over them just asking a question.  We would be even more annoyed if they jus timplemented a system without any feedback whatsoever.

I didn't check the forum before posting so I guess it is a common feeling that subscriptions are horrid?

Anderton

Andrew Rossa [Cakewalk]
I've been at Cakewalk for 12+ years and one thing has always remained true... we are very customer focused. So please keep that in mind as you speculate on how SONAR will evolve. 

I hope I can take that to mean iLok is not being considered... 
 

My suggestion would be like, if you want to pay a small monthly fee for use of Sonar, merely transferring your license to online verification, where you don't see/feel any difference is ideal. For example, let's pretend your dongle is in a cloud somewhere. You shouldn't notice a difference (which, if the PACE/iLok guys had any sense of forward-looking, they'd develop a driver to validate your software online vs a stupid USB fob).
 
I suggest, Sonar runs as it does today, but it merely checks online occasionally for its license (if you didn't buy the full-copy). If your Internet connection is down for a couple of days, so what? Sonar could be patient in that it thinks, "Ok, your Internet connection is down today, but I've validated you in the last 3 days, so you're good for another 2 days (5-day rolling license checks). If I can validate your subscription was canceled, I'll let you know, and give you options to renew/un-pause, or at least let you export and mess around with the software, the audio engine will just not activate."

P-Theory
I didn't check the forum before posting so I guess it is a common feeling that subscriptions are horrid?

Understatement! lol :)  I think the ratio of violent opposition to even a maybe is 100-1

Oh good, then please listen to your user base Cakewalk.....Subscription model will be the death of you!!!!!

I actually think a subscription model would be attractive to NEW users of SONAR - ie those that might pay $99 a year (or $9.99 a month) for access to SONAR - which is cheaper than the $499 rrp entry price for Producer
 
I think the problem with existing users is that we feel we have ALREADY paid for our versions so would expect a cheaper upgrade path, bearing in mind most of us will probably upgrade anyway for more $$$ about a year after our last upgrade 
 
A subscription model where it is $99 for the first year and then a reduced amount for existing users for each following year ($79?) would seem a fairer model and certainly something I would be happy with

lol

P-Theory
 
It would mean I would have to subscribe for the shortest period of time so that I could migrate all of my projects to a new DAW. 

Not really, If you have X3 now then you have it forever or until such time as Windows no longer supports it. So you would have time to migrate to another DAW.
 
I have empirical evidence this is true... (Bender told me!)

i trust Bender.  X3 does everything I could hope for so whatever next versions bring will just be cherries o n top

I don't understand who benefits from this change, almost sounds like new users only. I like to look at my box and discs up on the shelf personally.