I liked the old design which was more influenced by tablets than controllers. It had a simpler look and was thinner making it easier to hold by the edge instead of gripping. And Nintendo, just print the U symbol on the U controller.

Personally, I like the adition of those handles. The last thing you want while playing a demanding game is a controller that slips under your hands.

The change to sticks and the new placement of some buttons are also welcome.

Is it just me or does holding the controller look awfully uncomfortable? I guess it needs to be experienced but still

Personally, I like the adition of those handles. The last thing you want while playing a demanding game is a controller that slips under your hands.

The change to sticks and the new placement of some buttons are also welcome.

I agree.  The new curved handles look far more comfortable and more ergonomic.  I love the sticks and new button placement as well, though I do have to agree with @I am awesome that it looks a bit bulkier and not as compact as the original design.  Hopefully they rectify that

Whereas your hands are reaching and pointing toward each other with something like a Classic Controller or a PlayStation Dual Shock, they aren’t with the Wii U tablet. When holding the tablet, your arms will be almost parallel, and your hands will be in a different position. Go ahead and try it at home: use a hardcover book, held length-wise. Notice the difference? No? OK, now move your thumbs, pointing inward to reach the face buttons. Ah, there we go. Welcome to the problems of these sketches: the ergonomics of a standard dual analog pad do not translate to a wider tablet. Your thumbs won’t be moving to where the alleged original version of the controller’s buttons are; instead, they’ll be moving to the blank space between the analog stick and the screen on the prototype.

What’s more, the prototype would either have been wider to accommodate this pointless layout, or the touch screen would have been smaller. Viewed through this lens, the finished E3 product actually makes complete sense. Nintendo’s designers saved width and weight, while maximizing space for the touchscreen. Since you will have to make a vertical adjustment to reach the face buttons, a molded hand grip also makes no sense (what would be perfectly comfortable in one position would be awkward and clumsy in another). What once seemed like a preferred option has revealed quite a few flaws. Another imperfection? Go back to that book you were holding. Notice how your thumbs are flat on the surface of said reading material? Go ahead and raise them, because that’s where the analog sticks would be. Now hold that for two hours. Not quite as comfy in that position as a standard dual analog controller, is it? The much-maligned circle pads have a far lower profile than sticks would have.

Of course, it’s not all utility. The finished E3 product achieves a more balanced and clean look. Nintendo’s official design is thinner, more refined, and intriguing enough that one can’t help but imagine how it will feel in your hands.