PC Laptop, MacBook, or what I really want.... The iPad 2

Question

I am a community college student in Eastern North Carolina. This past summer my laptop of several years finally ground it's last gear and since then I have been without a laptop. I do not receive financial aid, or help of any kind, paying for my classes and textbooks so I was going to go to my local Wal-Mart and just buy the cheapest laptop they had so I could complete my assignments. I said as much in one of my classes and my professor who happens to have all Apple Products had a lot to say. Yet I am still unsure of a few things and need some clarifications before I make a purchase (I have read everything I can find, but I am worried I've misread or misinterpreted something):
What I need to be able to do:Write / Create:
Research Papers
Excel Documents
Power Point Presentations
Create, Open, Edit, Save and Send the above type of files so they can be opened, edited, saved and sent on Windows 7 Microsoft Office 2010
Surf the Internet (I am aware that Safari fulfills this need)
Back-up my files, pictures, music, videos, etc. on an external harddrive should (God forbid) something happen to whatever product I purchase. (I feel much safer with a hard copy)
Stream online video(s) and audio to complete assignments for classes.
Carry my product with me all day, every day. (I leave home at 6am and rarely get home before 9pm)
What I want to be able to do:
Keep track of assignments, appointments, and work schedule
Have my music, videos, and pictures with me while I am on-the-go
Watch an occasional movie from iTunes or Netflix without using all of my available memory
Consolidate! (My bookbag is extremely heavy from lugging around textbooks, notebooks, and various items and supplies for both work and school)
PURCHASE eTextbooks (CourseSmart offers only rentals, and as a Psychiatric Social Work major I want to keep some of my psychology and social work textbooks as references later on down the road. Purchased eTextbooks can't be ruined, lost, or stolen like printed textbooks and so seem the smarter choice)
Questions:
What is the big difference from an Apple Laptop and Apple's iPad 2?What can the laptops do that iPad 2 cannot? I know there are no USB hubs or any ways to install a program from a CD, but with iCloud and the AppStore won't I have everything I will need?
If I decide to buy the iPad 2:
Do I buy the iPad 2 from the Apple Store, Wal-Mart, or Best Buy?Honestly, what is the difference? The Apple Store for Education offers free next day shipping as a "discount" but this is going to be my Christmas present for myself and it is going to have to sit in it's box until December 25 anyways. Or I can always drive 25 minutes to Best Buy and not have to worry about any kind of shipping at all. Everyone's prices are all the same so I see no difference. Am I missing something here??
Which memory size do I buy?
I had a lot of music on iTunes, but have forgotten my password. Since I no longer attend the school which provided the e-mail account I had (stupidly) linked to my iTunes Account there is no way to find out my password. I have 2GB worth of songs on my new iTune's account, and I do expect that to grow.
I do have a lot of pictures, but they are all on Facebook and Google's Picaso Application. I really do not see myself using the iPad 2's cameras much, and not to mention I heard they left the consumer lacking.
I perform a lot of work in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; however with iCloud and the 'Dropbox' App I should be able to save my work online, right?
I do not travel much, but when I do travel it is long distances. (Example: 2008 - England for 1 month, 2009 - Ireland for one month, 2010 - Wales and Scotland for one month) Would WiFi  work in the UK, Italy, Greece, India, Peru, Guatemala, etc.? I cannot see how it would be, but I am just now truly jumping on the technology bandwagon.
Can I back-up ALL of my iPad 2's files on a external hard drive via a PC Computer?
WiFi Only or WiFi+3G?
One mile from my house in every direction some form of high speed internet is offered, but my family and I are stuck using dial-up (shhh.... shhh.... it's okay.... don't cry for me too hard). My HTC Desire cellular phone contracted through US Cellular offers a Mobile WiFi Hotspot and only offers 2GB of service. Can you sign up for a iPad 2 WiFi+3G data plan without having a cellular plan through either AT&T or Verizon? Is the 3G service only offered in the USA?
How to the WiFi Only and WiFi+3G differ? Just being able to get online even when there isn't a WiFi connection available?
Will the Pages, Numbers, and Keynote Apps fulfill my need for Mircosoft 2010 Word, Excel, and PowerPoint?
I must be able to create, open, edit, save, and send work to my professors. I understand that I can accomplish all these things should my professor use an Apple Product; however, what if my professor does not? Will Windows 7 Microsoft 2010 be able to open my work?
Is there a video, book, ebook, or guide on how to use Pages, Numbers, and Keynote? I have never used these applications and from what I have seen it will be quite an adjustment for me.
Can I take music or videos off my iPad should my space begin to run low?I have bought several songs and videos on my iTunes Account, but what if I sync my iTunes Library only to find when it has finished that I have only 3GB of memory left? (Probably a stupid question, but I am trying to cover all angles before making such a purchase)
Can I buy textbooks via the iTunes Store, CourseSmart, or Textbook Application?
I have researched CourseSmart to the best of my ability and it seems that you can only rent eTextbooks. Is the accurate? Not that I am complaining! By renting textbooks on the iPad 2 via the CourseSmart Application the device will have paid for itself in just two semesters. Considering I have at least another 3.5 years of study ahead of me there is no telling just how much money I can save!
Should actually buying eTextbooks not yet be available is there any chance it might be in the near future???
Are there any Stylus Pens available that can write on paper while also writing on the iPad 2?
I am a very heavy-handed person and am scared I will somehow damage (Scratching the screen, accidently pressing down too hard, etc.) the iPad 2 should I try and use a Stylus on the screen.
Should this product not exist: If I were to use an available Stylus (Which are good and which are bad??) would there be a problem with both the Stylus and my hand touching the screen at the same time? When I write my fingers and hand both touch the paper, and so I am worried I will make a useless purchase.
iPad 1 released in 2010. iPad 2 released in 2011. iPad 3 released in 2012?
Does anybody know if Apple is currently working on or close to completing the iPad 3? I do not wish to buy the iPad 2 at the end of December and then have a newer model with better hardware upgrades come out 2 or 3 months later.
I understand that technology advances quickly, but will iPad 2 continue to be the world's leading tablet device or is Apple going to release the next 'world's leading tablet device' soon?
     I wish to thank any and every person who responds to this. I know this is a lot of questions, but to me the iPad 2 means paying up a lot of money. I work part-time at a Boys and Girls Club and I have to make every cent count. The iPad 2 seems to be an absolutely amazing device and I truly hope that it will be the best product to fulfill my needs. I must make a decision soon because Santa Claus is on his way!
Again, thank you for your responses and for your time!
Hunter Shelton

Answer 1

The ipad is certainly no replacement for a computer/laptop.
It is used in conjunction with a laptop/computer. It is simply a big ipod/iphone.
I would not even consider the ipad for your needs.