Hum... after listening to it in loop over and over...
I'm sorry, but I prefer the original.
I mean: to be honest, I didn't dislike this excerpt.
The vocals are much much better on this except - still raw, but more clearer, more emotional, more expressive, more intense.
The new lyrics seem interesting too and better than those lines that had a doubtful taste.
I'm not fond on this stripped-down instrumental. The melody seems to be more perceptible/audible, but this seems too synthetic for me, specially after having heard the Linear version.
I'm one of those that liked mst of the Linear version.
I don't have anything against the Coldplay-ish strings and, in fact, I think they work very well as the intro - it just had to be polished and a little reworked. The initial guitar riff works very well too through the whole song, it's simple but effective and has texture.
Some lyrical lines were not very happy either, but that wouldn't be hard to rework (Bono could easily do it with some inspiration).
Just do not ever (!) erase that bridge (3:34-4:15 - I love the chord progressions of the synths here mixed with Bono's lyrical speech) and don't EVER delete or switch the outro of this song (at least the main idea) - those group singing "Ooh's" are so simple, but combined with that chords, they're so powerful that just give me chills.
I believe that the Linear version of "Winter" is the material for something big, maybe one of U2's best songs, but it has to get some work done.
Done this, I'd prefer a rework of Linear's version, than this new (maybe the original...) version.