I like the blue tooth apple keyboard and it's only $69.00, the camera connection kit for the iPad is $29. You can purchase the iPad2 for $400 new (16 gig) or get the latest and greatest starting at $500. I would only get the Wi-Fi only, as most cell phones can become a Wi-Fi hot spot. Either iPad, Android, Netbook or Laptop will do the job, but a tablet is smaller and would take up less space.

Note the Kindle Fire, is an Android Tablet set up as a book reader. But with all LCD's using it in the bright sun doesn't work all that well.