Downloading desktop programs on the Microsoft Surface RT?

I bought the Microsoft Surface RT during black Friday and I was under the impression that I would be able to download things such as Firefox, uTorrent, VLC media player, ect (normal programs that you can get off the internet on a desktop or laptop). I had asked the best buy guys and they assured me that I would be able to do this but I can't. Each time I try I get a message that says something along the lines of "this program isn't available please visit the Microsoft store.". My question is if there's a way that I can get those types of programs on here and how to do it… I'm not against jailbreaking it if that will make it work, I've got the 8.1 update too. Also I had bought the Chrome Cast and successfully connected it to my iPhone but am having trouble connecting it to my Surface any help with that would greatly be appreciated

Windows 8 RT is M$ attempt to bring about the "walled garden" success that Apple's App store and Google Play enjoy. If you have an iPhone, you can ONLY get apps from the App Store. Similarly, if you have Android phone, you can only download Android apps (altho not necessarily from the Google Play store, but most do). Microsoft has their own store, but, for all accounts, it truly sucks. They don't even have FACEBOOK app yet. So the deal is you can only run apps from the Microsoft app store on the RT tablet. If you want full access to all programs, you have to buy Surface, or another laptop that runs full Windows 8 (or 8.1).