I think the new show is good, but not quite as good as the original.... but, in all fairness, I do not think you can compare them because, as fans of the old series will probably attest, it was nearly a different show save the fact that some of the characters had the same names as the original cast, and so with the space vessels (viper, basestar, galactica, etc).

Here is the reason; they changed way too many 'core points' of the original show. All remakes change a little something here and there... and it's not only acceptable, it's really necessary because it really doesn't make any sense to duplicate the show entirely. I wouldn't see the point in that.

But a few key points that the majorly messed with, and shouldn't have, include but are not limited to:

(1) The powerful friendship between starbuck and apollo. Before you go ranting and raving about the same existing between apollo and starbuck in the remake, I will remind you that they reversed the gender of one of them, causing the sexuallity aspect to enter into the fray and, sorry,
that change EVERYTHING. Stay tuned and see them become intimate- I will bet you everything in my bank account. For those of us that are old-time fans of the old series, well, our toes may cringe a little in fruedian lashback at seeing this.

(2) The cylons... ARE NOW PEOPLE! We LIKED the "shiney metal chrome-plated toasters"

(3) No lasers? what's up with that? I understood the entering of nuclear weapons, to give an emotional touch with today's society (fear of nuclear annihilation), but
no lasers? Ships in space that can travel at faster than light speeds.... but still throwing bullets and missles at one another?

Anyway, in conclusion, while I do not think the show is BAD, and I look forward to watching the series now that it's been released that they are making 13 more in a mini-series (I don't think that is a real surprise to any of us, they are telling us all along what we really expected given the way they ended the show), I do not think it is superior to the original... in fact, I damn near would say you cannot compare it to the original. It's nearly like comparing an apple to an orange.

My two cents worth.