After hunkering down in the R&D lab for more than three years, Microsoft is finally unveiling Windows 8 on October 26.

But the software giant's next-generation and highly anticipated operating system won't be the only new tech product stepping into the spotlight this month. Major OEMs ranging from Dell to HP to Microsoft itself have been readying new devices specifically optimized for Windows 8's tiled and touch-capable UI. Among them are tablets, Ultrabooks, and a slew of new convertible PCs blending the best of both mobile worlds.

Here are 12 Windows 8 devices that particularly stand out from the crowd.