Windows 8 is Microsoft's newest operating system for laptop and tablet devices. So we are certain many of our readers are contemplating which Windows 8 device to purchase. It's never easy making the choice on which laptop or tablet to purchase since there are so many different options, but we're here to make it easier.

Microsoft Surface RT (Amazon - $549.95)

The list wouldn't have been complete without the Microsoft Surface RT. The Surface RT is the first Windows 8 device to grace the market; however, this device is not running on the full version of the OS. It's running on the RT version, the one that is designed for tablets and the ARM type processors.

The Surface RT has a 10.6-inch display with a 1366x768 resolution to boot. The screen is bigger than the iPad 4; however, the resolution is a complete disappointment. This shouldn't pose a problem for casual users, but those on the hardcore side of things would need a little bit more oomph.

If you are considering the Surface RT, take note that legacy windows applications will not work, only the applications in the Windows Store. The device also comes packed with the full version of Office 2013 for free, which is pretty awesome.

Sony Duo 11 (Amazon - $1,239.99)

Another Windows 8 device to consider is the Sony Duo 11. This is a neat little laptop with a 11.6-inch full HD display with the ability to fold into a tablet without much effort. However, the downside is that the device weighs a massive 2 pounds and, therefore, for tablet use it may not be comfortable for hand-held usage for a long period of time. The Sony Duo 11 comes with a Stylus and the full version of Windows 8.

Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 (Amazon - $1,399.99)

The Lenovo Ideapad Yoga is probably the best among all the others here. This beauty of a laptop/tablet packs a beautiful 13.3-inch touch display with full HD resolution. Like the Sony Duo 11, the Ideapad Yoga can flip over; however, it does it with more style and looks a lot sleeker than Sony's offering.

Users can get up to 6 hours worth of battery life out of this, which is excellent for an Ultraportable of this caliber. At 3.5 pounds, the Lenovo Ideapad Yoga is not heavy, but won't be comfortable for extended tablet use.

Acer Iconia W700 (Amazon - $771.99)

The Acer Iconia W700 is beautifully designed, one of the best designs we've seen in a tablet for a long time. While it is easy on the eyes, the device doesn't pack the thinness of the iPad 4 or the Microsoft Surface RT. The thickness is more along the lines of the Surface Pro than anything else, but that is expected since the Acer Iconia W700 is not running on Windows RT.

The screen here is 11.6-inches at full HD, which is probably not the best for a tablet device that is meant for being primarily in the hands. Despite being designed mainly for tablet use, the Iconia W700 runs on Windows 8 and not Windows RT, which means users would be able to use desktop-based applications without any problems.

The Acer Iconia W700 is a beautiful device but it is bulky and, therefore, it is not something one should consider using mainly as a tablet. It has a USB connection so a mouse can be used along with a Bluetooth keyboard.

Lenovo Thinkpad Twist (Amazon - $906.92)

Finally, the Lenovo Thinkpad Twist. As the name suggest, there is something twisty about this laptop, which is the main attraction. The twisting aspect of this Thinkpad is the screen, which can be twisted in different directions and can be folded into a tablet. The laptop is also rugged, a surprising addition since the weight is only 3.5 pound, and not many rugged laptops weigh that low. When the device is in tablet mode, the keyboard is protected, which makes the Thinkpad Twist a more robust laptop when compared to the Yoga.

On the inside, the Thinkpad Twist packs in a 500GB hard drive along with 24GB SSD drive for caching. Together, both drives offer a speedy start up times and overall system performance.