Ipad tablets or laptops which one?

Any of you had any of these what where your views what do u think is better I'm a college student first year , I need something fast , long battery , wifi , some thing I can download apps on such as skype , text message ect... give me the whole nine yards on everything you know I'm willing to listen to everything being a college student I have some money saved up but don't want to spend it on something that won't work