Hi Bob!
I advise you to consider a Compaq/HP Tc1000 or TC1100 TabletPc.
You can find a review of the TC1100 here:
http://www.tabletpc2.com/Review-HPTC1100.htm
and of the TC1000 here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_Compaq_Ta...-20627295.html
You should be able to fetch them used on ebay, the TC1100 for around 7-800 US$ and the TC1000 for around 4-500 US$.
I used to own a TC1000 and now have a TC1100, and found them reliable. The only real problem with the TC1000 was the affidability of the powered stylus, a problem that is totally solved by the TC1100 un-powered one.