Per usual, need help picking out gear...

[Noa]

... but not ingame.

I want to buy a tablet/ereader/etc.

Must be able to read various types of ebooks. PDFs.

Need to web surf. Flash is a plus. facebook. games, etc.

Reading docs is a must. Editing docs would be awesome.
OpenOffice would work, but Microsoft would be better. Would love it if I could use OneNote.
Being able to plug in or doc a keyboard  is probably necessary.

Large screen would be nice, but needs to be lightweight.

I'm fond of HP products and I'm used to windows. Being able to sync my laptop, desktop and tablet with windows 7 would be cool.

Willing to spend up to $600, but $400 would be better.

Thanks for the help!

[Alirrin]

Sounds like what you really need is a Windows 8 tablet. Can you wait 9 or so months? Early indications are that they are going to be da bomb.

If you need something available now, I have an iPad and love it, despite being otherwise a Microsoft person. However, it doesn't do Flash and doesn't do Microsoft Office, but it does do OneNote (as of a recent update), has a bluetooth keyboard option, and plays a gazillion good games.

[Rumze]

I did a lot of research when I got mine but this was before the hey days of tablets.

I got a sony e reader. Can read anything, I can put on my own files and easy to use.
However, its black and white, cant surf the web or use flash and is strictly a what I put on is what I get.

Nowadays, Id give you the same advice as Alirrin. Not only can a tablet do all that , and what you want, it can do a lot more. I dont know about waiting for another 8 to 9 months but there are literally tons of good deals around on tablets here. But then again in canada, boxing day or week is our black friday. Ive seen tablets going for 200 to 400 dollars cheaper and you dont need the newest one to do what you want.

Im actually going to try and grab one next week at a special promo for android tablets. 100 bucks for a tablet! ( Going to save it for someone's special birthday ) 

[Noa]

Can't wait. I'll be a graduate by then. Hopefully.

I'm liking the Samsung Tab, but need to research more.

Thanks for the replies!

[Grimaldo]

I've owned a Kindle for a couple years now and love it for what it does best... reading books. I've toyed with the idea of acquiring a Kindle Fire but am a little off-put by the screen size. I've also played with my sister's iPad a bit and like it a bunch except for the weight.

From your needs list, it sounds like what you want is a fully functional Windows based tablet that can easily integrate an external keyboard. The iPad would be the next closest, but would be lacking Flash (no Facebook gaming for you!) and potentially direct MS Office integraton.

I'd recommend doing some research on places like CNet.com. Surely they have a section of reviews dedicated to Tablets.

[Lyrima]

Love my iPad.  The no flash thing is really annoying.  Getting online rocks.

I use their word processing for simple note taking and then email it as a word doc.

My outlook stuff syncs with their calendar, so that's never been an issue for me.

I'm a pc user all the way (gotta be for the gaming) yet I've found the iPad syncs what I need it to.

[Mixxi]

I've got a couple of iPads (needed the iPad 2 to hook it up directly to a projector), and really like it, even though I am not normally an Apple person. I'm a total app junkie--although, strangely, I do not play games on my iPad. I use the Kindle app on my iPad to read because I am also an Amazon junkie. Hell, with free shipping and no sales tax, I buy EVERYTHING from Amazon.