well there are lots of tablets you could consider. I have all sizes including the 7 ", which to me was just not big enough. My current that I use most is the Asus Transformer tf300 and is an exceptional tablet.
As to weight in the specs it tells you on each what the weight is.
As to how many GB to get that would depend on if it can also use an SD memory card if so you can usually go up to 32GB on the memory card which is quite a lot so you could easily go with the smaller GB on the internal storage. I try to put all of my apps and books and other content like pictures, movies, music on the SD card. there is an app for that which will move anything you install to the SD card.
As far as I know there are no restrictions to keep you from using one on a plane as long as they have given the ok for electronic devices.
Battery length is dependent on the device, what you have loaded on it that start at boot just like a computer, and a few other factors. It is rarely as long as they tell you it is in the specs because you will generally always have some thing more running in the background.
I prefer non dedicated devices which allow you to utilize any type of app for example reading books, I have installed on mine the Kindle app so I can read those books, the Nook app, and regular ebook reader apps like Aldiko which is my preferred reader which will utilize epub format books like you get at many sources and the library this gives you the most freedom in where to get books and the kinds of formats you can utilize.
Trying them out and touching them is always a benefit.
I could not be happier with my Asus transformer which also has the dock and a real keyboard so when it is together it is exactly like a small laptop.
Some of the main things to check are what version of Android are they running and will they be planning on updating the product to the next newest version? if not you will be using an outdated product pretty quickly. Go with a tablet that is running the latest version of Android at the time you buy it do not go with something that is cheap because it is already outdated with an old version of Android you can find lots of these out there. And also very important is the resolution of the screen go with the best you can get the older ones with 800x600 etc are no where near the newer ones with much higher resolutions. Sound quality on them is not great so be prepared to buy headphones or earbuds or a separate speaker you can usually get bluetooth for those.

we have 2 generic 7" tablets, my DH the tech god, got them & he mostly uses them for reading, watching movies while on the elliptical at the gym, emailing w/o getting a laptop out. Then he got a new Samsung 10" Note w 64GB & 4G wireless, thru work (wireless engineer) well now it's MINE LOL. I have a Kindle I use for reading (when I find time LOL) and a new laptop but now I am ALL about this new toy! he could care less, he got it because work will buy it & he can use it for work email easier than his wk cell. The battery lasts days even when left on but hibernating. The 10" size is a bit small compared to a laptop but it is easy to use. I often find myself trying to use my laptop as a touch screen now LOL. my only complaint is some websites are not configured for that size & sometimes even when they have apps for tablets instead, they don't function as well as websites on laptops. That is really the only time i go back to my laptop.

If you want to learn a bit about tablets and are willing to hack your own (fairly easy) the generic 7" ones work very well. my DH would never ever buy a big name brand tablet because you can get multi-processor generics now that run as well as the big brands for less than 1/2 the price. ~ liz

My DD has an I Phone but she wanted something more/bigger to read books. She decided on a Nook, probably because of price. It lights up so reading in inadequate lighting is good. She loves it.

lol..my dgds (12, and 10) say go for more bytes...(16gb) last longer...havn't a clue how you charge on a plane...

Does anyone know how much you pay for the 4G wireless service on a notepad?....

on Verizon I think it can be a shared device on a wireless plan. if you get 8G data a month it's shared between cell phone, laptop & tablet. I was tethering the tablet to my Virgin Mobile cell phone HotSpot while I was away from home, for a few days till work activated the 4G. I have unlimited data on Virgin. We would not have 4G on a tablet if it was not free thru work LOL atleast not if I didn't pay for it haha. ~ liz

Oh great, now I'm guessing there are *ongoing* charges? Such as?

You have to remember I'm so cheap that I 'borrow' my books from the library -- DVD's, too.

To read your books, you won't have any "ongoing" charges. That would be for internet access other than wi-fi.

You pay for your Internet connection, if you are interested in having a connection using a cell phone provider and the tablet you have can actually use it then you would have to pay for that service.
Many tablets do not utilize a cell connection.
If you have a smartphone many providers have plans that allow you to use the smartphone as a hot spot or to teather to. None of that is must have, it's just an option for some.
The tablet will be use able on your regular wifi networks.

Pack your laptop? Do you mean put it in your checked luggage? It's none of my business, but I would caution you strongly against putting anything valuable in checked baggage.

sorry I didn't mean to say that you have to use 4G wireless on your tablet, you can use wifi where available. Before the 4G activated I was using our own wifi when home but we do not use free wifi when it is avail and most places we need it, charge you like many airports. once the 4G activated you can not turn it off, work policy, so we don't worry about wifi. 4G is actually faster than our cable modem wifi in the evenings due to residential volumne use in the evenings.

I often travel a lot thru airports and have never had any issues w my laptop, often they don't even have me turn it on. 2 yrs ago I got a netbook for traveling and we don't have issues. we do have 1 old laptop we don't travel w cuz DH has repaired it sooo many times it has a screw in the screen frame, wires sticking out & the battery door taped on LOL yea not good for TSA haha! ~ liz

OK, I think I understand. I have a little 4-year-old Nokia phone that's part of a 'family package' my DS pays for. It's reliable. It can take and send photos.

We have broadband Wi-Fi at home and at our condo, and I did use my laptop briefly at ORD last trip.

Ah, but if I wanted to see movies on a tablet...I'd need to pay for Netflix, right? Or...can I load a movie on a tablet at home and watch it later? Need more GB's to do that?

I hate the TSA hassle of pulling the clumsy laptop out. I'm busy taking my shoes off and being wanded because I am a likely terrorist (have two hip replacements). I know checked luggage is not 'secure', but would anyone WANT my $250 reconditioned Lenovo? I don't use it on the plane, but don't think I could tolerate typing for two months on a tablet. Maybe Raven's tablet + keyboard would solve this?

Thanks for your patience with 20th Century Sue.

I download rented movies to my tablet when I have a wifi connection like at home or in a hotel, then watch them while I am flying. I happen to have an iPad so I rent movies through iTunes, but you could do the same thing through Amazon on other tablets. In general, I find that I am around wifi enough that I haven't needed a 3G/4G connection.

you can load up an sd card full of movies before hand to watch if you like that way you don't have to worry about streaming and how your connection will be. I load lots of books on my SD card so I have lots to read.
ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T
there that is the transformer I have, they have a few different models. Mine has regular updates and has been updated to the latest version of Android. Asus is wonderful about that they send out updates very timely.
The dock and keyboard are exactly like a real laptop/netbook keyboard section it is not one of the little bluetooth add on keyboards. There is yet another SD card slot in the dock and USB ports for use with usb flash drive and other usb devices.
It has amazing battery life and the dock can charge up independently and will extend the battery life by about 5 hrs.
I use mine most as just a tablet but having the dock is nice. Just google it for lots of info and reviews. I got my entire tablet and dock for under $300. This does not have the mobile cell 4G capabilities, just the wifi which works great.

The Asus sounds great but...the tablet looks too big and heavy to hold and use as a reader. Seems I might as well read on my Lenovo laptop. Maybe I need to adjust to reading while resting the *whatever* on a lap desk? I'm probably trying to make one gizmo do too many functions and should just buy some color ereader.

bigfoot_liz,

"my only complaint is some websites are not configured for that size & sometimes even when they have apps for tablets instead, they don't function as well as websites on laptops."

I agree about how websites display on a 10" screen (I have an Acer Iconia, ICS) but have found that when I pull up a web page (using either the stock browser or Firefox) if I touch the 3 little boxes, in the upper right corner of the screen & then touch Request Desktop Site, the result is just like viewing the page on your laptop or desktop computer.....

Love my "tab".......wouldn't be without it!!... : ))

to me the 10" tablets seem small compared to laptops, I can not use the 7" ones for movies or email or even surfing, like my DH does, they are just too small to view easily while exercising. I do love the resolution of this Samsung alot which gets me past what I think is a small screen + the touch screen & pen are awesome! if DH had not gotten the Samsung from work I did have the Asus 10" transformer on my B-day list. DH loads up SD cards w his movies that he watches outside of Netflix and also has netflix & Amazon Prime. I think I read that Barnes & Noble is dumping the Nook brand maybe do some research on it and wait till they do it and get it cheap! ~ liz

How much memory does an average 1 1/2 - 2 hr movie require?

I use my tablet as a reader all the time, I am on it 90% of the time, I really don't use my other computers much. I find that the weight is very easy to handle, I have a couple 7" tablets that I don't use anymore since I went to the 10". I have hand problems but have not had issues holding the tablet to use or read, and I don't use any type of desk. You learn very quickly how to handle it. Some cases can add significant weight so take that into consideration if getting one.

I use the firefox addon that automatically request the desktop version of the website. I can also use the same menu dots to select the desktop version. On a 10" tablet using the desktop site is much easier and better but the smaller tablets are better suited for the mobile site version.

Sue this is a deal at one sale a day the same Asus transformer I have with the keyboard dock under $300. I got mine on one of those deals. It can be a one day offer so no time to think about these deals. They sell out fast at that price.

Here is a link that might be useful: tf300 bundle

Just to mention that I have the Asus Transformer, too, with the keyboard dock. I love it! The keyboard makes it like a mini-computer so I can answer e-mail, type things, etc. with ease. I also load books from my public library on it to read and find it very comfortable to do so. I bought it mainly for travel and anywhere there is wifi it works just great (ie. airports, McDonalds, coffee shops, hotels--free wifi is easy to find these days.) I'm not much of a movie watcher but it would be just fine for this purpose too. The quality is outstanding. I'm really impressed with this pad--the first I've owned.

I hope Sue sees this before it ends as of now it is showing only on for another 11 hours.

Since this is in the flash section you do have to be registered on the site to view but it is a quick and easy free registration for their site. I have been a registered member for years now and buy stuff quite often.

I don't know that I have ever had my Asus go completely dead on the battery, it lasts a really long time. I plug it in first thing in the morning since I take it to bed and read or surf at night, when I am done using it at night I do turn it totally off which saves the battery but during the day once it is charged I rarely plug it back in.

And this tablet will come with Android 4.0 but once connected to wifi it will let you know you have updates and it will update to the most current version of Android, that is what mine is on now.

ONE DAY I don't check in here and...I miss the message! Ugh!
Thank you for thinking of me.

We were at DGS's junior league ballgame; stopped to make a return; looked for carpeting; stopped at Costco and got home in time to watch the last part of "Spies of Warsaw" (Alan Furst's book). Then dinner and 'collapse'.

I brought home a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 7.0, 8GB, Android 4.1 ($170) from Costco. Maybe if I have something 'in hand' I'll get a feel for what would work -- and I can return this. I haven't even read the instructions yet.

Sorry you missed the message I tried LOL

The Samsung Galaxy should be a nice tablet, it may also update to the latest Android version if you go to settings and check for updates, I am not sure how often Samsung does their updates. But there are great dedicated forums for every brand and model of tablet which are extremely informative and helpful so you can always google your tablet and forums to find some. I am on several different ones.