I think all of the tablets from 5 inch to 10 inch will handle Netflix, email, messages fairly well. I suspect that Nexus 7 will handle video better than the iPad since it has a higher pixel count. Since you are also interested in eBook, then I recommend the Galaxy Note 8.0. That is the only tablet I know of that has a special "reading mode" app that gives more of an epaper look to the text. Most reading modes allow one to change size and font and things like that, but only the Note 8 allows one to make it look like a Kindle for reading. When you say messages, I probably should ask for clarification. I assume you mean SMS text messages. In that case all of the tablets will require a third party app to allow one to do that. If you have AT&T on your phone, then they have a messaging app that links your phone to your tablet (and/or PC) so you can send a text from your tablet using your regular mobile number. Fonelink also allows you to text from your tablet or PC again using your mobile number (using my same mobile number is important for me since I don't want people to keep asking "who is this", like you get when using Text+ and the like.)