Doesn't actually make much of a difference, and given the placement of the little joystickcontrol, it actually makes it a little easier to use (unless you're left-handed, of course).
It's the first model to feature an interface powered by the PS2's Graphics Synthesizer and Emotion Engine chips, too, and comes with a clamshell, joystick-equipped remote control that looks like you could use it to pilot a plane and solve complex equations while you watch.