I wouldn't go back because of the Pro Channel...that thing is priceless.

For me the biggie (which has become such second nature I think most people have forgotten about it) is the SMART TOOL
 
Thinking back to 8.5 (which I used a lot) it is frightening how much you can now do with a single tool
 
Add to this the Pro Channel, Skylight, Screensets, the multi-dock and the new toys (Melodyne with ARA integration is just insane - especially if you can stretch to the Melodyne upgrade to Editor, the polyphonic pitch correction is just voodoo IMHO!)

My old computer took a crap on me, so I had to buy a new system.  I went from Sonar 7 to X3, but also went from XP to Windows 7, from 32 bit to 64 bit.  I dreaded this and it's proven to be as much work as I thought it would be.  It's taken me about 3 weeks to get things where I want them, but at the end of the day, it was worth it, and I tell everyone that my old system dieing was a blessing in disguise.  For me it was about like moving to a new house (minus the heavy lifting).  I now have what I consider a powerhouse computer, better audio interface and tons of great new tools that I can use without having to freeze tracks all the time and worry about running out of RAM.  (16 gigs now vs 1 gig before)
 
The biggest problem I had, which probably nobody else would have to deal with, was that I registered all my software to a hotmail email account which I somehow could no longer open with any of my usual passwords.  I couldn't get any help getting access to the account, so I had to contact each vendor and jump through the hoops of proving who I was and getting my email accounts changed.  They were all cool about it, but it took a lot of time to straighten that out.  Whew
 
  Since my options were get a new system or quit, it was certainly worth it.  Now I feel like I'm ready to run, but it did take a lot of time to get here.
  
Learning the new features in Sonar was pretty smooth, and I do like the new layout. 

chuckebaby

paulo

Roo Stercogburn
If you can use 8.5 with its 'challenging' interface, you'll have no trouble learning X3. Go for it.

Shows that we're all different - the console view in X series although now improved by the return of custom colours is still worse than 8.5 and one of the main reasons I have avoided X anything so far.
 
Now that it is possible to make it look not quite so horrible and even though the fx bins and such still suck on narrow strips view, I am actually  tempted this time, but retailers here (UK) still seem to have no info at all on when box set upgrades will be available. I have spoken to several and assuming they speak the truth, they seem to have been left completely in the dark, which seems very poor for a product that was released nearly a month ago. One of them didn't even know it was out. More worryingly, a vey large retailer near me has just stopped stocking Gibson products because they say that their delivery times / reliabilty of deliveries is just plain awful and they are fed up with having to tell customers that ...." erm no, it still hasn't arrived" . Hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

its hard to give an honest opinion of this software by just looking at it.
specially with all the changes now, VST 3 being the largest IMO
8.5 cant even compare. x3 makes it look like a toy.

FYI my opinion is based on having tried both the X1/2 demos not " just looking at it". I've always liked the browser better in X and the pro channel is a good thing, but that doesn't change the fact that the console view in particular was a backward step in terms of being able to see the names of things properly, not because of any improvements, but because of all the wasted screen space on the layout and up until now the swathes of dull grey - just horrible IMHO. The multidock thing is just a glorified version of the tabs in 8.5 and I wouldn't personally use it anyway as I prefer the console view on a seperate monitor not crammed into the top or bottom of the track view. You may say looks don't matter, but if I'm going to spend hours loking at something I'd prefer it to be easy on the eye, same as I wouldn't buy a car no matter how "cool" it was if the seats were so uncomfortable that I hated being in it and it broke down all the time - some may call standing on the roadside next to their cool looking, but broken down car progress. I just wave as I drive past them in my old uncool car that is very comfortable and never breaks down. ;)
 
Also, the biggest obstacle between me and worldwide super-producer status is not how old the DAW is, it's the idiot trying to work it ;)
 
X3 has upped the ante for sure and may finally be more acceptable (to me) aesthetically speaking, but as there is no demo I cannot try it and currentlly cannot buy it either, so looking is all I've got to go on there.
 

Personally...  I can't argue that the console view could be improved.   More visible sends, expandable FX bins and/or smaller plugin fonts, and better use of the real estate "upstairs".  Ideally, a somewhat "scalable" CV for those not using touch. 
 
But looking at SONAR holistically, the Console View is just one part of the whole.   And not a part that (for me) has any real impact compared to everything else that X3 has to offer.     --> YMMV <--    
 

I personally "clicked" with X1 straight away, IMHO X2 and X3 have just taken the concept and improved it with each upgrade.
 
Try the X2 demo and approach it with an open mind. Be prepared to try a "new" or different way of doing something and after a while it'll all make sense. The smart tool is a typical example, at first it seems a bit backward because it has fixed functions but once you get used to it adapting to each view it makes perfect sense.
 
Since X1 the only time I used to switch tools was for comping. With the comping set up in X3 I don't even have to do that. I may very occasionally use one of the shape drawing tools but other than that I never need to switch now. Unlike in 8.5 where changing tools happened in almost every view change.
 
The whole program is full of stuff like that. Have I mentioned screensets? I could go on about those all day.
 
Thanks Mike (mudgel) for correcting the name mis-spelling.

FastBikerBoy
I personally "clicked" with X1 straight away, IMHO X2 and X3 have just taken the concept and improved it with each upgrade.
 
Try the X2 demo and approach it with an open mind. Be prepared to try a "new" or different way of doing something and after a while it'll all make sense. The smart tool is a typical example, at first it seems a bit backward because it has fixed functions but once you get used to it adapting to each view it makes perfect sense.
 
Since X1 the only time I used to switch tools was for comping. With the comping set up in X3 I don't even have to do that. I may very occasionally use one of the shape drawing tools but other than that I never need to switch now. Unlike in 8.5 where changing tools happened in almost every view change.
 
The whole program is full of stuff like that. Have I mentioned screensets? I could go on about those all day.
 
 

 
 
Spoken like a true fanboi

If you're gonna jump, watch as many tutorial videos as you can find.  CW and many others have posted lots on youtube etc.  Watching these will definitely accelerate your transition to the X series.
 
You know the old saying: "no pain, no gain".  There will be some initial pain, but the gains are well worth it.

mudgel
Karl Rose aka FastBikerBoy FBB

Ah-ha! RosE! No wonder I couldn't find him. Thanks.

jlizerbram
I've been a Cakewalk DAW user for many years, and spent the majority of my time in Sonar 7 and 8 (my current version being 8.5).  I've had much success with it.  Is it worth moving to X3 - will it be a huge learning curve with the Skylight look and feel, and inspector, among all these new terms I'm just getting to understand?  What has been your experience moving from the Sonar 8 versions to X versions?

It's totally worth it! However, I would seriously consider upgrading your system in order to unleash X3 to its full potential. Those old Q6600's were great a few years back, but the newer i7 systems, loaded Ram, are the way to go.