For tablet/touchscreen(Out of the box anyway)
Side-grade.
7 and 8 are basically the same thing marketed at two different consumer groups.
Works fine for my laptop, even has all my old folder pathing I was worried I would lose with Windows 8. Remember the windows key? It's the button that makes someone who is used to having a older version of windows fearless again with windows 8.
It is a weird upgrade, but not truly a side grade. Might be nice to have a tablet or touchscreen laptop, but I'm fine with my two versions of the desktop. One for a glorified quick launch, one for actually working with.
And the glorified quick lauch still comes in handy for news headlines or weather warnings at a glance.