Should I get a tablet?

I really don't know much about tablets so I thought I'd ask for opinions on here. My computers starting to get really slow and outdated so I'm thinking about getting a new one. All I really do is browse the internet. I figure I'd keep my old laptop for storing the bulk of my music and photos. But are tablets speedy on the internet? How about typing? I'll be going back to school in a while and wonder if I can type documents on the tablet? For the price I could get a decent laptop so what could a tablet offer me over a laptop? And last what are the best tablets for the money? Thanks for any inputs :D