Rugged Notebooks Guide

I am a young author without any good, portable technology to write with when I travel.
I was thinking of getting a palm pilot or a cheaper model, but I have a few questions that I need to be answered first.
(I am talking about Canadian dollars)
-What price range should I be looking for? (What a good price range is and what price is too low to be a decent model, and what is too high)
-What is the cheapest (but decent) brand of a handheld computer I can buy?
-When I am looking at the features on the labels, what should I be looking for?
-If I do not install internet, would I still have a monthly bill?
-Where should I look for them?

Thanks for anybody who answers!
I don’t want a laptop because they cost too much money and they are not usually small enough to fit in a small purse.
I REALLY need help with this! PLEASE!

Have there been any improvements in portable TV reception in the last few years? I’d like to get a battery operated one if the reception is good. Technolgy has advanced a lot over the past years for computers , cell phones , home entertainment centers……..but has anything really changed with portable TV’s in terms of reception and picture quality?

Like a computer drawing pad but smaller and portable.
Kind of like those electric agenda things.
Like a little screen with a pen to draw with, almost like a nintedo ds, and handheld.

I am needing to have something smaller and more portable than a laptop that will work off of cell phone service so I can work on homework if I am out. I need to know if and what type of devices would be the best for me to look at or if they are even worth it.

I saw a web page comparing 3 handheld computers (different brands) that have not been released yet. they are very small and have a touch screen and camera built in. i cant remember the site or even the names! anyone know anything about these?

What do you think is better if you just need the ability to access outlook e-mail, write papers, and access the Internet on the go? I am going to school online and I also work full time in sales so I am always moving. I have a good computer at home and work I just need something for in between here and there. What would you recommend? And should I lease or buy if I am only planning on really using it for a few years. I kind of think that leasing is a good idea since technology changes so fast. If I buy then it would just be obsolete in a few years. Let me know what you think.