Looking for a Laptop or Handheld for a Hospital Patient

A relative who is recuperating in the hospital would like to get a laptop that's comfortable and easy to use. He is bedridden most of the time and unable to speak or type easily although he is able to sit up enough to access the keyboard.

Besides the usual email and web surfing, he would be using tha laptop to communicate with visitors in lieu of the handwritten notes he uses now, which are awkward. It occurs to me that a text-to-speech capability might be a good idea as well as a touch-screen for typing.

In my opinion, light weight and a decent screen size are important as well as battery life.

Of course, a built-in WiFi or ethernet cable connection is mandatory.

Of course, hand-held alternatives are not out of the question if they have the right feature set and ethernet connectivity.

Suggestions would be appreciated.