Yes, there is a better way:

if($. != 1){
  # we're not on the first page
  # "make 'previous' link" code
  if ($. != $total_number_of_lines){
    # we're not on the first or last page
    # add neat little " | " to separate
    # my 'next' and 'last' links
  }
} 
if ($. != $total_number_of_lines){
  # we're not on the last page
  # "make 'next' link" code
}
[download]

It's not much, but it is an improvement, IMHO.