Ravencajun really understands and knows tablets. Hopefully, she will chime in. I myself (if I could afford it) in your situation would look at the larger kindle Fire. I use a laptop and my old 2nd generation kindle. My mother has an ipad which I really like, but it is very different and sometimes stumps me. And the Fire might be heavier than you expect. Actually, if $$ were not an issue, I guess I would maybe choose the ipad. I can see that I haven't helped one iota!

pam_25f, thanks for your post! I'm also hoping Ravencajun chimes in...didn't want to "call her out" because some posters frown on that. I'm so tempted go get an iPad, but it intimidates me even though I surf a bit on my iPod (that screen is SO small!), so thanks for you thoughts on the iPad.

I'm no expert, but I do have an opinion, LOL. I also have a Kindle Keyboard, which I dearly love and hope it outlives me! I didn't even consider the Fire or another tablet. I've had it for about 2 years. For my birthday this month, DH gave me an ipad mini. I love it too, but for anything other than reading. I'm addicted to word games and play them all the time on it. And I love the Sims (I know, get a life). But recently I woke at a little after 3:00 and could not get back to sleep, so I decided to read for a little while, choosing the mini because of the lit screen. I don't think I could read for any length of time with it. You might wonder why reading would be different than playing games, but it is. Your eyes are moving around the screen much quicker when playing games and print is much larger. But staring at that white page filled with smaller font was not easy on the eyes. It's only my opinion, but I would strongly suggest that you borrow a tablet and actually read at night with it before purchase. Might be for you, might not.

I have an iPad 1st and 4th Gen and a Nexus 7. The Nexus 7 2nd Gen has just come out and has some great features. Personally, I am holding out for an iPad Mini 2nd Gen if it has retina graphics. I use mine mainly for reading and surfing.

I am with Holly and holding out, impatiently, I might add for the new iPad mini. I usually read on my little iPod or Nexus. I surf on the iPad. I am electronically spoiled.

I have several tablets and use them all the time I would be very upset if someone took them away lol.
I personally prefer Android devices they are less expensive and can do pretty much all the pc can. Ipad is also nice but I donâÂÂt see the value of the difference in price.
I currently have and use daily including right now, the Asus transformer tablet, it's a 10-inch tablet, has a separate docking keyboard that can attach to it so it becomes more of a laptop, they are sold separately. I highly recommend this product. For the price it is an excellent choice.
The resolution of the screen is excellent, it has a quad core processor which is very responsive, it comes with a lot of great apps already installed, including the Kindle app so you can use all the Kindle books you have plus it has other ereader apps which let you utilize many other ebook formats so you are not tied down to just Kindle books.
You can choose from several browsers to use, I have Firefox, chrome, opera, dolphin and a few others. The Asus transformer is one of the most often updated tablets on the market. Many companies put out a tablet then leave you hanging with no updates to the latest Android version which means that your tablet is quickly out of date.
I would only consider tablets that are currently or can be updated to the latest Android version of Jellybean.
There's several brands that are good candidates all well known brands Acer, Samsung Google Nexus 10, Samsung galaxy 10, Sony xperia, Toshiba has a tablet out.

Point being there's a lot to choose from so don't think you have to go with the most expensive ipad. It depends on what you want to spend mostly.

I have the Asus transformer TF300 Tablet if you want to look for it. I just saw it on woot with the dock for under $300, if you watch you can find those deals.
Feel free to ask me what ever you need, I might not know the answer but can help you look for it.

Here is a link that might be useful: transformer tablet

I have the Nexus 7 and love it! I read e-books, surf the net, read here, email, play Words With Friends, etc. I have tons of songs and my photos on it, the display is awesome. Light enough to hold in bed, and doesn't keep my husband awake, like a light would.

I have two IPads and a mini, it is easy to adjust the font size while reading, I love the ease of the App Store and all of my devices,(I phone too) sync together. Love them! I used to have an Android phone, just never got the hang of it. Have a Kindle paper white , rarely use it. Never use my computers anymore.

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but like raven I champion the Asus Transformer. You get the best of both worlds--a tablet and, when the keyboard is attached, a netbook-type item that does everything a laptop would do and is very easy to type on.

(raven, I'll admit, however, that I've never updated my Asus nor have I received update information (it is the 101 model; about 2 years old now). Could you tell met how to access an update site?)

well the 101 is different than the one I have so it may not have the same update schedule. But on mine I just go to the settings then about tablet and there updates and check for updates and let it get online and check for any updates. I have had all of mine come over the air that way. Then this is the part that is a bit confusing, when you see it says there is an update there will be the tiny arrow at the top showing it is downloading something then it just goes away and you think ok now what lol , you then go to your notifications bar at the top and swipe it down so you can see everything listed in the notifications look carefully there for one that says update click on it and it will then start the install process.
Mine has faithfully updated every time with out a hitch and I have Jellybean 4.2.
You might try contacting Asus to see if they have sent out updates for the 101 or google it some of the dedicated Asus tablet forums would also be able to say. I remember a while back when I was on one of the forums not sure which one could have been xda someone was saying the 300 was getting the updates before the other models.

And just to clear things up anything any one tablet can do an android tablet can do it also, the one thing that would be different are the things that are proprietary to apple like itunes.
So if someone says I can change the font or the size or have music and videos and pictures, use office suites, use lots of apps from the app store, surf the net, email, go to forums, play tons of games etc etc all of those things you can do on an Android tablet. The Kindles are all Android based but Amazon changed things in it to make it more locked down to Amazon use and more proprietary.
So pretty much any thing you want to do that you have heard people mention can all be done on an Android tablet.
I personally have had all the various sizes and the 10" one I have now is my fave, still very light weight, less than a book, and much more viewable space. The 8" was my next favorite.
These will have a back-light in the screen just like your monitor on your pc so you do not need a light on for reading at night. I like mine set on night read mode where the back ground is dark and the text is light, the light can be easily adjusted as can the fonts.
So when it comes to what they can do it is a pretty level playing field.

Thanks raven: I'll try it.

By the way, I am much happier reading books on my tablet than the Kindle. I get annoyed at having to turn pages so frequently on the Kindle! My all-time favorite was to get free books is to upload them from our public library. I find this revolutionary--with just a few clicks I get upload all sorts of titles from my city library's extensive e-book collection, including new titles, best sellers, classics, etc. Yeah!!

I just got (Monday) my new Kindle Fire 7" to replace my first generation Wireless Kindle. Love it and I haven't yet discovered everything it can do. Downloaded all my iTunes to it and can surf the net in bed in the middle of the night. If desired I can watch movies but haven't done that yet. My old Kindle had a 6" screen so even one inch is an improvement. I really did not want anything bigger or heavier to use mainly in bed.

I have a 10" Acer Iconia, & like ravencajun, somebody would have to rip it our of my hands, I would definitely put up a fight.....lol.....

Its running the Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android (its 2 yr. old & won't get the Jelly Bean update) but it does all & WAY MORE than I'll ever want......

I've got my .mp3's set to play by folder so I can listen to my favourite tunes as I'm playing a game.....

I also play Old Time music at Care Homes......I scanned all of my sheet music as .jpg's & loaded them onto my tab.....now I don't have to pack any music books, I just take my tab, touch the screen for the particular notation that I need & I'm ready to start playing.....

I still prefer Windows for any photo editing but I'm sure Android will soon catch up in that respect.....

The E-reader apps are great, lots of choices for different formats....

Which ever one you get, you'll love it!!....

just a heads up, larger size doesn't always mean heavier! They are making them lighter weight now. My 10-inch ASUS weighs less than my 8" and my7" tablets that are older. Super slim and super light. Always check the actual specs sheets for anything you are looking at.
Another advantage to consider is if the tablet is able to utilize an additional SD memory card for added storage, certain tablets do not, which I consider to be serious. I want to be able to use a memory card. The Asus transformer TF300 with the dock can actually take 2 memory cards, one mini on the tablet and one regular on the dock, big bonus.

marita there has been updates to your model
the final official Asus firmware update for the device is 4.0.3, released in July of 2012. The build number ends in .27

I have found the links for the firmware update for you, I will link it below. However it would be much easier if you would try getting over the air through the tablet, try doing as I suggested, settings, about tablet, system update and have it connect and scan for one. Watch the notifications bar for a download arrow and check the notifications list for any downloads, if you see it click it and select to install it.
Otherwise you will have to go to the link below and find the proper firmware for your specific tablet, it's critical that you get the one for the right sku, it tells you there how to determine your own sku, I would think that it would be the US one.
Now from what I read directly from Asus they are not issuing a Jellybean update for the 101 versions.
I think I would try contacting Asus support and find out more about the firmware update that is offered there on their site and what options you have, and also how to get the updates over the air as you should.
I wish I could help more but that's about it. Of course there's always the option to go to the xda forums and have them help you install a custom ROM that they have created which will allow you to have the latest Jellybean.
This link takes you there where an Asus support tech actually suggested that
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2091679

Here is a link that might be useful: firmware update

well what a coinkydink I had just checked my ASUS for updates on the 28th and nothing, I tried today and surprise there was a system update for me. I just installed it, took a total of about 10 minutes. By the way it's always best to plug in your device while doing updates because you don't want it to go dead in the middle.

raven, thanks for coming back to offer help. I followed your instructions and easily accomplished the firmware update. However, I thought there would be an update for the android system: mine is honeycomb, and I thought there'd be an update to ice cream sandwich or jellybean. However, it does not seem that these are available to me. I'm not sure what exactly the firmware update did--but at least it is done.

you definitely should have more updates. I saw this suggestion for trying to get the updates over the air.

Go to settings > apps > all and find CMClient. Tap it and tell it to clear cache and force stop. Do the same to DMClient then restart your TF. Then go to settings > about and tell it to check for update at the top of that screen. Wait at least 3-6 minutes to get a notification.

link telling which tablets will be getting the new 4.3 Jellybean update, my tf300 is scheduled to be one of the first to get it. Thanks ASUS!

Here is a link that might be useful: schedule

Thanks for all the input! I got a Nexus 7 through Staples, and it will be delivered to my office on Monday. I'm looking forward to playing with it.

Another question--does a tablet replace your desktop or laptop?

My tablet will be in addition to my laptop.

Patti it does not for me I still really depend on my desktop for some things. But daily when I am sitting in my recliner or laying in bed that tablet is always in my reach. I find I use my desktop less and less. Which is good because I can sit much better in my recliner.

Nothing can replace my desktop. My Dell fried a month ago ,and I went thru withdrawal till I got another 25 inch , this time Lenova. I do love the iPad ,but cannot stand being on the laptop, Hate it, but had to use it for a few weeks. The iPad is a marvel though.