I did a quick scan of all the posts and I did not see anyone recommend a Chromebook. They are cheap, (~$200), fast and simple. Word processing is easy with Google docs and if you, like most people, use the device mainly to work on the internet, its a great tool.
It has a full size screen and keyboard and for a very casual user - its perfect.
I agree that what you want is a laptop, and you can probably get a basic one that will work for you for $300 or so.
One recommendation: if at all possible test out the keyboard before buying. Lots of cheap laptops have fine keyboards, but some of them have really terrible keyboards. If you’re planning to use it primarily for writing, then get one with a keyboard you don’t hate typing on.
I’m still reading and thanking you all. I haven’t had enough brain power left to compare and reply but I weel! I weel! 
(I know I’m posting everywhere else but I’m too tired to think.) BTW, no Apple store, no Costco. 
Try woot.com
I’ve been browsing myself. 
Can I download other things to a Paperwhite? I mean solitaire games, etc.? I have enough points to get one for free but would want it to do a little more than just the ereader.
The problem with a laptop for the OP IMHO, is that they are not that comfortable on your lap. They are hotter and heavier than most people think.
I’ve a 5-6 year old Toshiba Net Book. I replaced the standard hard drive with a 240GB SSD (solid state drive). I like the SSD because you don’t have to be gentle with it. Turn it on, toss it on the bed, throw it in a backpack while running. No prob.
It’s my Wifes and my go to computer. It’s been to Mexico a few times.
And, it runs a lot cooler. And is much lighter than a laptop. But has a good keyboard. Accepts a wireless mouse and has a touch pad mouse standard.
These have e-ink displays: Slow, black&white. For Kindles like these, books and such only.
I have a Nook Simple Touch with an e-ink display that I have rooted and added some apps. The screen is really not “friendly” to most things. I sometimes use Open Sudoku on it, but that app assumes a color display and things are a bit off. And forget using it for most anything that requires a fast refresh. Using a browser is a chore.
One thing to keep in mind about e-ink: when you turn the device off, the screen doesn’t go blank. No need to.
An e-reader and a general purpose tablet are quite different beasts. An e-reader can go a long time on a charge and has an easier to read screen (for its size).
The Paperwhite does have some games for it, which I got mostly for the novelty. It’s all black & white, of course, and performance is slow. I have a Bejewelled clone, Scrabble, and a Hidden Object game, which is better than expected.
The best thing I own is Steve Jackson’s Warlock of Firetop Mountain. It’s an RPG that was originally published in book form, but they’ve implemented the character management and dice rolling in the game. Here’s a link, and a link to other Active Content games listed there, too. (Amazon doesn’t really advertise this content since they started the Fire tablets.)
The Paperwhite wouldn’t be my first choice for mobile gaming, but if you just want a little something and your phone battery’s dying, it might keep you occupied. Oh, and it’s got a slow as snails web browser, too. Still, this is all stuff the Paperwhite does more as an after thought. If what you really want is a tablet, you’d be better off with a Kindle Fire, which is about the same price as the Paperwhite, any way, for the starter models. (I’ve had a Kindle Fire HD. I enjoyed it but prefer the dedicated ereader for reading, so I gave my Fire to my aunt.)
I’m actually looking forward to Thursday. At least after surgery I know I can lay around in bed for awhile guilt-free. We painted until 8:30 tonight, when we realized we hadn’t eaten all day. It’s hard to use a roller with just one hand but then I met a man who had no feet…you get the picture. I shouldn’t complain; at least we have a home to move into. The past couple weeks have been a roller coaster of straight ups and downs but right now…for just this one moment, things are on track. I’m subscribing to the thread so don’t be surprised if you see it pop up again in a week or so. I’m “saving” and taking notes in the meantime and trying to learn the lingo.
And we broke down and bought a cell phone Friday. $12 and change at Walmart. It took me until this morning to activate it but my calls aren’t making it out, or texts (WTH is “space?”)
sigh I’ve got a long way to go.
I have an HP mini and it’s super for writing in the back yard, taking minutes at meetings, and being my portable word processor/web surfing/video watching device.
I agree, too. I have a tablet (Blackberry Playbook, and a Galaxy Note is on its way to me) and I immediately wanted/obtained a bluetooth keyboard. I think writers just like physical keyboards over on-screen keyboards.
Recent model inexpensive laptops are both pretty light and not particularly warm. They basically contain the same hardware that’s in a tablet, but with a bigger battery and a hardware keyboard.
I have been using a laptop in my lap for about a month now and it hasn’t bothered me. The size of the netbook screen would. YMMV
In the past, when laptop over-heating did bug me, I used a lap desk - one of those little breakfast in bed tables they sell at Target. My husband used a shelf from a bookcase. Really any flat hard surface. IIRC, it sounds like the OP already has a table she’ll be using.
Becky2844 best of luck with all of the surgery and recovery ahead of you!!
If you’re talking about a phone with a number pad, space is usually 0 or #, although * is also possible. And 1, but that’s really rare.