Depends how long your emails are and if you embed much in them. For long, involved emails and screen captures from the web, I'd steer towards the laptop but for reading things, more than writing things, I'd go for the tablet. I've got two desktops, two laptops, six Kindles and one iPad. I use them all for varying reasons (not so much the Kindle readers anymore). The Kindle Fires (7") are ok for reading books. The Kindle Fire 8.9 HD's are good for watching TV shows and movies. I like the iPad mini the best when laying in bed and surfing the net because the screen is just the right size and weight. The only thing I don't like about it is the screen resolution. With all those things in mind, what I would recommend, tablet-wise, is to wait for the iPad mini with retina display and get that. I think it is just a couple of days away.