I'm really torn on this. I'm a hardcore PC user who wouldn't consider moving to Mac but I feel like the way it was promoted was misleading for Mac users. Yes, buried beneath the hype was the reality that they were only looking for the alpha to start but the hype is what is going to leave a really bad taste in a lot of people's mouths who bought in or considered buying in because it was being pushed as a major thing that was going to happen. Arguing the semantics about the fine print isn't going to help either and I tend to find it a bit shallow and in very bad taste that people would argue "well, only the alpha was promised and it's delivered, so there". If I was a Mac user who bought into the hype train only to see it derailed like this with no real information given to them during the development process, I'd be really angry.

I think this is the correct decision. Rather Cakewalk concentrate on Windows. Magix tried to port Samplitude a few years back and they also figured it wasn't worth the effort and pulled the pin

As someone who uses both Windows and MacOS (and is on a MacBook Pro as he types this), in all honesty, even if Sonar for Mac were the best DAW in the History of Ever, the Mac market is a tough nut to crack, with most people devoted to Logic as it seems. I use Presonus StudioOne (which is the most Sonar-like DAW the Mac platform) on my MacBook.
 
I've been with Sonar products since Cakewalk Professional 3.01 for Windows 3.1. It's my main studio DAW because no other DAW in any platform works as well with hardware gear (Instrument Definitions, anyone?). 
 
 

TerraSin
I'm really torn on this. I'm a hardcore PC user who wouldn't consider moving to Mac but I feel like the way it was promoted was misleading for Mac users. Yes, buried beneath the hype was the reality that they were only looking for the alpha to start but the hype is what is going to leave a really bad taste in a lot of people's mouths who bought in or considered buying in because it was being pushed as a major thing that was going to happen. Arguing the semantics about the fine print isn't going to help either and I tend to find it a bit shallow and in very bad taste that people would argue "well, only the alpha was promised and it's delivered, so there". If I was a Mac user who bought into the hype train only to see it derailed like this with no real information given to them during the development process, I'd be really angry.

 
It is too bad that they promoted it. They should have just kept quiet as they worked on it. I understand how their excitement and zeal overrode good business sense though. Also they probably thought it would be easier than it is. Particularly if they were playing with Codeweaver's stuff. Crossover is based on Wine and as any Linux user who's played with Wine or Crossover can tell you it seems really cool and functional at first, but the devil is in the details and starts manifesting as you dig deep in to a program. So while something may be "compatible" you find a lot of advanced functionality doesn't work or works wrong.
 
Stuff like this is why companies often hold their cards really close to the chest: You never know what can crop up that'll screw with plans and if you announce things early in the development phase, it can build up expectations that later get crushed.

Alex Westner [Cakewalk]
 
There are 3rd party products and royalties included in the more advanced editions of SONAR, which would prohibit us from releasing it for free. It was more important to be able to deliver the Mac prototype to anyone who wanted it, without having customers jump through any additional hoops.

 
 So, let me get this straight and I'll take some logical liberties (which I hope I've the right given the circumstances). You all had the brilliance to make a capital grab with the whole license for life campaign to subsidize the "port" to Mac... only to realize later there were way more technical issues and probably worse way more licensing/royalty issues than made economic sense to carry it forward? And now you all are trying to take the high road and offer a pre-alpha stripped-down product for free for non-paying customers? Wait a minute didn't I pay for those licenses already?... Hmm, I guess not.
 

Noel Borthwick [Cakewalk]
We only ever planned an alpha mac version prototype last year. It was clearly mentioned in the announcement that it would be an alpha which is what was released today (some months late).  

With all due respect, this "alpha mac version prototype" is totally mincing words. In my world a "Prototype" is not "Alpha" - alpha is pre-production software. A prototype is something we developers hack together to prove a concept and then completely tear down before building the REAL production software. The HUGE difference between pre-production alpha software and prototype software, is that alpha software is expected to carry on life. Prototype software is by definition "End of the Line" and exactly how you've presented this product. If Alpha is what you are now stating you delivered, by definition: Mission Failed.
 
Sorry Cake, but you all screwed up, you know it, we know it, and it is totally apparent that you are rolling out the damage control PR. But the less you try to paint over this mess the better. Otherwise, next time I want this much spin in one day I'll start shopping for that  late-model, cherry LeBaron Convertible. :-p
 
There, I've said my peace... you've taken enough lumps from me.
 
 
 

Side note: In my Cakewalk account there is a list of all the products I have purchased over the years (starting with Sonar 1). The latest product in the list (from the download of the mac prototype) says "Sonar Platinum Mac." That's kinda funny.

35mm
I don't use Mac. It sucks.

 
That's quite a reference. 
 
I do. It doesn't. Checkmate. 
 

35mm
 At the end of the day though, I think it's too late to be porting to Mac as it's in it's death throws and good riddance to it.

 
Or... the vast majority of the people actually earning a living out of this who also happen to work on Mac just don't spend much time on the internet complaining and reading such doomsday predictions.
 

I never cared about a Mac version as Sonar on PC does a very nice job on virtually everything I need in studio and live situations.
 

Lance Riley [Cakewalk]
we have begun to explore new ideas and initiatives that will reach more musicians on more platforms than ever before, and we’re all very excited about our future!
 

but I truly hope that this is not an indication of iToys (or androidToys) development. we don't need another good company going IK

So here's a question from someone who has never owned a Mac - what could you do in a native Mac version of Sonar that you couldn't do using Sonar with Bootcamp? Are there plugin compatibility issues or performance issues using Bootcamp? Just curious.

millzy
So here's a question from someone who has never owned a Mac - what could you do in a native Mac version of Sonar that you couldn't do using Sonar with Bootcamp? Are there plugin compatibility issues or performance issues using Bootcamp? Just curious.

Not have to deal with Windows is always a HUGE bonus for me.
 
Once you're running Bootcamp and Windows, you are essentially running a PC - albeit, a very fancy (and underpowered) PC. Not a very exciting perspective.
 
For me, it's just not worth the hassle.
 
I would run a native version of Sonar (admitting that I didn't have to upgrade OS) on my Mac anytime. But even though I sometimes would have liked having access to Sonar, I never seriously considered Bootcamp since I switched in 2010.