The Microsoft-branded Surface Pro with Windows 8 is available for consumer purchase, and is apparently doing fairly well thus far. However, there are some folks who would rather to own a different brand of Windows 8 tablet, or it could be that the Surface doesn't quite meet their needs.

At first glance, the Surface Pro is a beauty with quite a lot of power on the inside, but all that power comes with a hefty price. Reviewers also claim the battery life is poor and it is difficult to use it as a laptop since the back stand is unable to keep the device in place when placed on the user's lap.

The best option for buyers at this point, is to look elsewhere for their Windows 8 laptop/tablet fix. Below are the top alternatives to the Microsoft Surface Pro, coupled with links to Amazon for easy online purchase.

Asus Taichi

Samsung ATIV Tab Smart PC Pro 700T is another beautiful Windows 8-based tablet, one that could truly replace the Surface Pro since both are so similar. The similarities between the Surface Pro and the ATIV Tab Smart PC Pro 700T lies in the keyboard being able to detach from the screen.

On the inside, the Samsung ATIV Tab Smart PC Pro 700T packs an Intel Core i5 processor, 11.6-inch full HD touchscreen display, 4GB RAM, cameras at the back and front, microSD card support and a HDMI port. Compared to the Surface Pro, the Samsung device promises 8 hour of battery life on regular use, so that's good, right? However, be prepared to spend $1,372.95 to get the ATIV Tab Smart PC Pro 700T in your hands. There are of course cheaper models but they either come with a significantly weaker Intel processor or Windows RT.

Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is the least expensive device on our list, which obviously means it is less powerful, but don't let that fool you. Lenovo knows how to make computers and it's not surprising the company is the top computer manufacturer ahead of HP and Dell.

At first glance, the IdeaPad Yoga 13 resembles just any ordinary 13.3-inch display laptop, nothing truly different until you realize the screen can be folded. By folding the screen, the IdeaPad become a tablet. However, doing so exposes the keyboard, a huge design flaw that shouldn't have been. We've never used one, but it appears uneasy to use due to the keyboard being on the back when in tablet mode. Just imagine your fingers all over the keyboard every time you try to use this device as a tablet.

Despite the design flaw, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 is still a capable machine worth trying out. It comes equipped with a Intel Core i3 processor, 128GB solid state drive, 4GB RAM, integrated webcam and HDMI port. All this would cost the buyer no less than $1099.99.