Uh-huh....just as I anticipated.
I feel like I'm in 'Land Of The Lost'.

Kidding aside I got the X2 trial downloaded by midnight.
I knew of the different interface and what I was in for.
I'm going with X2 studio as I can't justify the Production suite.
I'm calling Cake today or tomorrow to see what tantalizing deals I may qualify for.....which scares me little. :)

Started dabbling around this morning:
1) Delta 44 profiled fine as WDM default (Beagle- I tried the ASIO.drv in Sonar 5.0PE and no luck...time to pull the trigger)
2) Found how to configure/access/record successfully the JV-30, MBD-1, MVS-1 and Proteus FX.
3) Instrument definition for the SGX-Nitro recognized so I can scroll patches for ease.
4) I have NOT opened a 5.0 song file yet but presume it's all backward compatible.  (Ahem...RIGHT?)

No furballs or PMO's during the process.
So far, so good even though my neurons are in need a short break.
I haven't found them yet but I will check out the available tutorials also.

I welcome any other tips (or warnings).

Anyone know where I can get us a couuple of pitchers of (not virgin) margaritas around here?....I'm buying.

Thanks to all to entered this thread to help me spent some buckaroos.
AND, for not chastizing me too badly for admitting I was still on 5.0PE.

Carry on....

Alright, you're up and running then! No Rice Krispies?

My only concern about your setup is the Delta 44. It's not a bad card - they just happen to make much better these days

If your plugin park is the same as previously you should be able to open Sonar 5 projects without any trouble. Just make sure you Save As "[project name]X2", or something like that, right away so you can go back to your songs in S5 if comething does get screwed up.

Other than that, just make sure your system is well and healthy and let us know if you hit some bumps in the road. So far, you seem set to go. The question now is if you'll like working with the new interface

Best of luck!

Top of the mornin' ProjectM.....

Yep...the plug park is all cool.
All scans went without a hitch and system is on a clean re-format/install.
Not one Rice Krispie in the mix to my elation.

My Delta44 is many years old so I'll do what I have to if anything starts pizzing me off.
The Win7 driver is behaving as we speak.
What really pleases me is the fact that the driver I have for my Opcode 8PortSE Music Quest midi patch bay works in Win 7.
Should anyone else be using this arhcaic yet reliable unit one can go here and buy it from Evert very reasonably:
http://8portse.earthvegaconnection.com/order.htm

The interface?...in all my subjectivity.
I'm not annoyed by it at all.
It's obviously not like the older Sonar versions but I do think it's has a cleaner, not as busy interface.
Many thanks for your comments and assistance offer.
I'm sure I may be needing it at some point.

Mas cafe para mi....thanks again.

Hey Quaz!

Cool! That's great to hear If the Delta works, then no need to worry. And no need to spend more money. I did the same, made a clean install when X2 came out and it has been trouble free since. And when X1 first came out I was one of those who jumped straight into it and never looked back on previous versions.

Im my opinion, you're up for a great time

Good luck!

I'm pretty happy about getting through all the hurdles/speed bumps when doing a major install/update.
No residual BS with the system to keep me awake at night.

I'm looking forward to digging deeper now.

Thanks again....

(BTW...I took the train from Olso to Bergen (spelling?) when I traveled in Europe back in 1970.
It was a cold, snowy train ride I might add)

i'm extremely happy with my maudio audiophile 192 card..

if you are thinking about the upgrade all the way around, i can suggest that 192 card, if you like maudio stuff.

of course, you might as well look at usb and firewire, tho i'm a believer in pci and pci-e

Mornin' batsbrew...(a micro brewery?...I'll be right over)

I've had the 2496 in my other internet PC for a few years or so as a backup.
M-Audio has never given me any grief so no complaints there.

Sheesh...I still have the Paleozoic Echo Gina20 nicely packed up in a box.
I purchased that one when it first came out back in the 20th century.

Thanks for commnents....

Unless you're running a commercial studio and all your plugins work well, then there really is no need to be on the bleeding edge... 

XP and SONAR (older editions, particularly versions, 6.2 and 8.5) are very good and rock solid. Though you're on SONAR 5?, that's getting a wee bit too old but if you are still able to run all your plugins without issues -- then save more money towards an up-to-date PC, top-notch audio interface and the next version of SONAR. 

SongCraft....

I concur.
To state the obvious (being on 5.0PE so long) I've never felt compelled to be on said 'bleeding edge'.
XPSP3 was very 'solid' for many years with the Sonar family but I did think it was time to upgrade the OS to Win7 and get current with the X2 generation. 
(Win8 was never a consideration for me)

I don't think I need to upgrade anything further at this time.
But, time will tell as I put X2 through it's paces over time.

Thanks for commenting....

5.0 PE was my favorite.