The old tivo remotes were the kind with conductive pads on the back of rubber buttons. This new one might be as well but with just harder buttons. I'm not sure but it is way more responsive.
I agree, I'm a big fan of it. And Bruno is right, the TivoHD has the standard remote, the HDXL has the glow remote, and the Series 3 had the glow remote as well (it's the one I have).
I have a fully coded-out Pronto remote that I absolutely love for controlling everything in my home theater...except the Tivo. My living room has two remotes in it, my Pronto and my Tivo remote.