Thanks for all the help.
I looked at second hand netbooks, very good in their day, but the three I saw, HP, Toshiba and Acer, were looking very old and I was reluctant to spend a hundred pounds, plus another sixty when the battery dies. Thanks
Minnie for the advice on fitting a new operating system, alas way beyond this analog guy's hardware and brainware capability.
Your Chromebook recommendation
SCHEDULING seems the best, I am inclined to go with that, best battery life, good looks, nice choice of color.
I am very reluctant to enter into another landline contract after getting my fingers burned. I really do like PAYG MiFi, though on 3G it is a variable feast, ok here at 3am but useless at 6pm. They say 4G is imminent in this area, so that's what I shall go for, 4G PAYG MiFi.