Mixed feelings...
Also startled at first (did I click the wrong bookmark, wtf? oh wait, it IS the Register...), but I do like the general change in the looks. IMNSHO, more pleasant and easier on the eyes, with the grey bars.
But to echo the general choir, *fixed width is so 20th century*, please... As I said, I like the grey sides, but they are quite largish in my bigger, widescreen home monitor. I could use with less scrolling, I'm sure. I'm guessing they will look fine at work (smaller, 4x3 screen), will see tomorrow.
Oh, yeah, and the icons are appalling, really. Really, really. What is this, an IT for kids website? It looks like someone's child spent 10 minutes using Windows paint to draw them. I had to look at the alt text of some of them to even recognize what they were to begin with. The old ones were much better graphics and had personality.