What do I need to send emails from the train?

[JacqueslePeacock]

Help! I am losing several hours a day of working time by not having a device which can read and reply to emails during my commute. What should I buy for this? I was thinking of an iPad, but they're expensive and not ideal to type on. What about a tiny laptop (is it called a netbook?)? Could this receive and send mails? There is no wifi on the train so the device would need to be able to connect to the Internet without that.

(can you tell I know nothing about computing/connecting to the internet?! Please help me, kind Mumsnet geeks )

OK, but I still think they're in the wrong to moan if you're on an unlimited tariff... was possibly 200 minutes, 3000 text (last summer they pushed the text count up to 5000 but kept prices the same).

For under a hundred pounds, you could consider the Acer Iconia 7" tablet
*> ASDA Amazon

MoTS - they do have a 1 GB limit on tethering (using a laptop from your mobile) and the 1 GB add-on is a fiver (so I suppose one might get away with 6.90 a month for the 'Essential 200' SIM Only deal and then add a fiver for 1 GB of data (but make sure everything downloaded at home or office on Wi-Fi connection before getting on train).

Then the 1 GB would just be for the messages sent while "on the move", via a phone (lowest cost PAYG is about 50 quid on Three).