Also bear in mind that cheap devices are likely to use resistive touch screens, which are TERRIBLE for typing ANYTHING on - even a web address takes a bloody age.

I'd probably side with Porkie. Acer or Samsung netbooks are available around £200, if not less, can support flash along with anything else you can run on a pc, and don't have touchscreens to worry about.

From your dad's point of view - without knowing or inferring anything about his age or health - it could be a consideration that a tablet will either have to be held up, which quickly becomes tiring on the arms even for a youngster, or slouched over, which isn't good for one's back.

Chris