AMD is absolutely fine, everything I own I made sure was AMD, never a problem.

Only you can decide if you want a tablet or laptop, go try one out at a store that sells them. A tablet will do a lot but probably not the best choice for all the tasks you are wanting as the primary device. I love my tablets and I would replace it immediately if I had to but I do have a desktop and my husband has a laptop which we do use for certain things that are easier done with the computer.

There are excellent 10 inch android tablets available under $200. Since you are in Canada apparently the options may be different.

Since windows 10 is coming out I would definitely try to get the latest version of Windows if you plan on not changing computers for several years that will give you the best extended life for the OS. I assume anything being sold new now will have the free upgrade option to 10 if it doesn't come with 10.

Just get on Google, search for your area or delivery options and see what is available. I think you would be happier with the laptop for all the task you have mentioned. As to office, no it doesn't come free. But there are a few very good free office programs you can use instead. Open office, Libre, you can Google for free office programs or ask here for the favorites. I use open office.

Yes tablets generally have the micro USB ports and many have mini hdmi ports, they can use an SD Memory card for storage. There's lots of different apps some free some for a few dollars that do all sorts of things.

If you are thinking about going with a tablet come back and start a new post about that specifically and we can help with the details. You don't want to end up buying a very outdated device and there's a lot of them out there.

Tablet

Pros: Much easier to type on for me. I like that it's easy to put the tablet where I want to, not tied down to a keyboard and only one position possible. When reading a book or magazine, it's much more like reading a book or a magazine. Passing it back and forth with my son is easier, like when we do a crossword puzzle together. I love that I can make the picture bigger and smaller so much more easily.

Cons: it's not all that easy to work with typical programs, e.g.Windows excel, etc. Not a big enough screen if I am watching a movie. It doesn't run all the sites I need for it to run, in the way the site runs it... especially if it needs Adobe Flash. That's not going to happen for android, ever, as far as I know.

I'm sure there are more things, but that's off the top of my head. I think, if I can figure it out, I really want to get a Roku for solving the movie problem. I do have Office Suite for some things, but it doesn't solve every site issue.

Based on your description of use and requirements, here are my suggestions:

If you've always used a PC and never used a tablet, and you can only buy one, stick to a laptop. You'll do better with something that's roughly similar to what you're accustomed to. Tablets are miserable for having to do any amount of typing or real work. I've had many PCs of various sizes and now have an iPad with a keyboard, that's been my experience. Tablets are good for light surfing and movie watching but are not a substitute for a PC. I have a travel netbook PC that's roughly the size of a tablet and I wouldn't trade it for a tablet for any money, it's far more flexible to use. Personal preference and experience.

Ignore specifications, they'll make no real difference in your experience. Pick a top brand and then focus on price, screen size, keyboard feel, battery life. Try different ones, go to different stores. I don't know if it's the same in Canada as in the US, but better prices can often be found with online sellers. Proceed how you feel most comfortable, a good choice is a seller that gives you a few weeks to change your mind (with no restocking fee) if you find your new purchase isn't what you were expecting.

Intel vs AMD? You'll never know the difference in any respect, ignore what's inside. It does happen that AMD chips are less powerful and cheaper and so are more commonly found with brands and models where a lower selling price is desired. But again, you'll never perceive any difference.

Hard drive size? All that are in normally equipped PCs will be adequate for your use, ignore the spec or any suggestion that you need to pay more for a bigger size.

Software? As stated, there are good and free substitutes that while having a few menu differences are fully compatible with and similar to MS Office.

Operating system - ignore it. All PCs will ultimately have free migration to 10, no need to be first in line.

Outlook for mail is now separate from Windows..... outlook.com and when you open it off to the top left you will see a windows (multiple squares/windows) icon which gives you all the programs that come with outlook mail. There is Office... Excel, Word and Powerpoint. it's a free program.

I have a laptop/notebook that came with Windows 8, I upgraded to Windows 8.1.

Anyway, I thought you might find this helpful

Outlook Mail<---------------LINK

What a nice job you all did in giving your best thoughts and time to frogged. I know you've been asked often,. I am just starting to use Windows 8 and decided to forget the classic shell. The easiest way to learn for me is to sort out which charms also known as apps that you don't want then decide than Try Mail as you have before and play around with it. After you become more familiar with what you know and don't, then read a book for dummies straight through and back up you question at the Microsoft forum. Read page by page even if you don't need the tutorial for it. The most computer savy users are the ones that take the time to secretly go in their man or woman cave and learn and will be exposed to everything. On the way through the book you may want to change some of your settings and that will be useful. The people that take the time to learn will be exposed to everything. On the way through this course. you will improve your knowledge. Become a champ.. You can also take a course . There is only so much flipping the pages and trying out the ribbon and setting that up you can do before you get serious about starting from beginning. Good luck I am on the same track as you and I will come back got help. I may find a online course. By the Way, there is only so much that you ever will use and that statement applies in different ways to different people. I wish good luck to both of us.

Thank you everyone, this is very helpful information, it is definitely going to help thanks!!!

i'll tell you one thing. I can't stand the dell that dh bought, and I have to use since he has taken over My pc... I swear it's always changing font size...it lost a slim metal cover at the hinge...I know user is the problem but i'm really careful...and the tablet we have (I bought for dh to take on jobs which he's never done, lol) is now regulated to games and fb upstairs in bed, lol...look for deals on the brand you choose...we've found often retail stores target, and wm will have deals that best buy and places like Verizon don't have...

My go-to computer person said she sees more problems with Toshiba's than anything else. Agree that you should get a laptop if you can only get one thing now. My computer person got. 17 inch HP EliteBook with Intel core i7 and Windows 7 for me. It is refurbished and cost $400. It is a bit heavy and also the bottom gets warm, but I am very pleased with it. My iPad is great but there are things I can only do on the laptop.

The best way to learn is to learn whatever new operating system is out there.

Just an FYI, in Windows 8, Charms are not the apps... the apps are the tiles that you can configure however you want. The charms are part of the very, very annoying Charms Bar located on the far right side of the screen..

Even though i just said that it is best to learn whatever is new.... because these changes are so frequent... and the technology is just constantly getting more whizz bangish... that doesn't mean you should use a flawed system. Windows 8 is flawed, big time. Upgrade to 8.1. Lets you keep up and feel current but gets rid of the bad design flaws.

Windows 8 tried to be all things to all users... no matter what type of hardware they were using. A tablet, a PC, a notebook, touchscreen or no touchscreen. When Windows upgrades to 10 it is going to do away with those annoying "Charms on the Charm Bar" altogether. Honestly, I could not think of a more misnamed thing than those stupid "charms"

You will enjoy 8.1 much more than 8

enmc stated: "Outlook for mail is now separate from Windows..... outlook.com and when you open it off to the top left you will see a windows (multiple squares/windows) icon which gives you all the programs that come with outlook mail. There is Office... Excel, Word and Powerpoint. it's a free program."

First, I was under the impession that a monthly fee is charged for using Outlook.com plus your info is stored in the "cloud." Are those two pieces of information I received incorrect?

Second, Outlook is still contained in Microsoft Office along with the other programs you evidently use.

Third, if you go with a laptop, be sure to get one that has a CD Rom space for installing programs from discs. I really like my laptop, but that is one thing I did not think of and I really dislike not having that feature.

Snidley gave good advice. I agree with just about all of it. You're not going to tax the performance of any modern machine you buy with the uses you specified. My one recommendation, and what I do every time I buy one or set one up for someone is to max out the RAM as much as possible. Fill open slots at least with highest possible. RAM will do you more good than CPU power in about 90% of all cases I've seen. If you buy from a computer shop they'll usually let you buy enough RAM to max it out and credit you for what's in it. Often there will be, for instance a 2gb when the slot will handle 4 so you have to remove it. Cheaper machines often only have 2 slots.

For me, I quit using the tablet, partly because it died but partly because it's just not convenient. I bought a $20 smart phone to use as a mini tablet when I'm out and about. Works fine for me. I much prefer the keyboard and 17" monitor features on a notebook/laptop. It's my primary computer.

I'm probably going to get another in the next month or two. I was looking at a refurb Toshiba for about $350. Everything I needed and more. Like I said I'd then add some RAM which I haven't priced but should be less than $100.

Occasionally you'll see places that include office in their packages, however it's not "free". Technically, no extra charge, but they charge you a few hundred more for the package so, you still wind up paying for it.

Most everything sold now should be compatible for Win10 unless you buy something old. Doubt you will.

My needs aren't the same as yours although we do use them similarly! Brand, well other than HP/Compaq I wouldn't object to most any. Dell at the bottom of the barrel. Much depends on luck and how you treat them. Look for the features you want. Number of USB ports, etc. For me, a modem is required and few if any notebooks have them anymore so I have to dedicate a port to the modem. I always use a mouse so there goes a second one. I use an amplified speaker powered by USB so there goes another. Historically I too like Lenovo and I've had great luck with Toshiba but haven't dealt with them now for a long time, except my first one (13-14 y.o.) is still going strong. I had one that died. Still the overall quality of them were far above others. But YMWV.

(Second to )Last comment: I do not hesitate to buy refurbs. They're often only slightly used if used and almost always a great value. OH, and DO NOT get misled by some of these places that include "$2000 worth of FREE software!!!" Most of it is available free anyway, such as firewall, anti-virus, anti-malware, etc.

NOW, for last comment, check your software that you find absolutely essential and see if it's compatible with the OS you're getting. Probably should check to make sure it will work with Win10 since it will be force loaded on you unless you take action to stop it. I lost use of some essential programs going from Vista to 7 so I keep the XP unit around for when I do desktop publishing which isn't too often but still needed.

Good luck in your search.