I can understand them wanting to reduce their costs, but the new design looks as if it would be harder to use. Hands will drift, harder to hold with the other hand if you don't have a flat surface, no tactile response.
I applaud most new (or re-) designs as it proves that design is going on - but I just don't like this one. Seems that the marketing dept. has driven this one.
It seems too 'apple' - and the apple section of the target market will probably prefer the touch screen. Not sure about the non-apple section - personally I hate the look.