I also do not subscribe to the Isheeple line of thought,, but...
The wife's 8yo think-pad was getting old, so I purchased an Ipad II for Mother's Day. I love her but she is not PC enabled when it comes to computers.
After two days on the Ipad she was on her own. I check weekly for updates. I am amazed at the easy of use..
It helped that our daughters and their hubbies have Isheeple fever. Even our 6yo G-daughter spends quality time teaching Na Na how to use her new toy..
I am still not an Isheeple..
As suggested, I would wait until the new Microsoft Surface hit the streets. They will be dumping them on the market for Christmas and back to college kids.
The Surface will have a couple ports I think are needed that apple doesn't want to give you:
USB port, preferable v.3.0
SD or micro-SD card slot, preferably SDXC, that will go above 32BG