Definately a lap top! I have an Ipad2 but find that you can do much more on a computer. The ipad clears emails every few days, harder to type on and some sites arn't compatible with microsoft so you can't open them. A small computer is only a litte bigger than the I pad so easy to transport. I paid $519.00 plus taxes for the Ipad in Canada but could have bought a small computer for less.