What precisely do you mean? It seems pedantic, but in what way are we talking here? Opinions on Augustus as a person, on him as a leader, on his political actions, his social programs, etc. were all quite varied and should really be kept as very separate discussions. Which one of these do you mean exactly? Further, when exactly are we talking about? Opinions on Augustus changed drastically over time, as did his base of power. Octavian made his name as a champion of Cicero's against Antony, but was able to build up enough support in both the Republican and Caesarian factions that when he got the senate to trust him with actual power he used it to promptly turn over to the Caesarians. Octavian was adept at this sort of thing, manipulating his public image and making people play right into his hands, and the popular opinion of Octavian the Triumvir is extraordinarily different from that of Augustus the emperor.