I got my father a Samsung tablet and boy is he over the moon with it. I also tossed up between the two but the tablet came out on tops as it was a lot easier to use. Joined him up to Telstra's lowest bundle plan and away he went.
The old fellow cannot put it down now. I have loaded the apps I believe he would be interested in like Gardian, Bloomberg, SBS, ABC IView, YouTube and so on.
He is extremely happy with it. He watches YouTube a lot with those old Dad's Army and Steptoe & Son movies also the gardening tips on how to grow tomatoes, lemons and build a hot house. He is now making his own bread from different recipes.
We have now progressed to Chromecast so he is able to put it up on the TV screen which has been helpful.
The only downfall is that he has been looking up his medication and ailments and then challenging his GP on certain things which goes down like a fart in a lift with the doctor.