The main meaningful difference is the built-in autofocus motor in the DX II. On Nikon bodies without an internal AF motor, that’s essential for autofocus; on bodies with a motor, it’s less important day to day.

Beyond that, the lenses appear very similar. Community reports suggest any image-quality differences are minor: some testing has found the DX II fractionally less sharp, while also being a bit more consistent across the zoom range. In practice, neither version is considered significantly better optically, and the original is already capable of excellent results.

Possible practical advantages of the DX II are broader compatibility, potentially quieter/faster AF, and better resale appeal because it will autofocus on more Nikon bodies. If your current camera already has an AF motor and the price difference matters, the original version is still a solid choice. If you want maximum compatibility and easier resale, the DX II is the safer buy.