Can the iPad Replace a Laptop?

I'm very stuck between what to do. Between a Sony Vaio laptop or the Apple iPad 2, im not sure which to get. If i had either one, i would basically use it for web-surfing, email, and typing doents. I know the iPad sounds like the perfect choice but it just seems wrong to spend the same amount of money to get an iPad when i can get a laptop. It would have to be the iPad 32 gb and the important accessories like the keyboard dock, smart cover, and having to get an AirPrint printer so that i may print doents off the iPad. Bottom line is it would be around $850-900. But, for around $950, i could get a 17" Sony Vaio laptop with a high capacity battery, a 500gb hard drive, and all the basic stuff like microsoft word and Norton anti virus. And i don't need to buy a special wireless printer for it like i have to do with the iPad. Now many would say that i should get the iPad because of the ultra portability and because i would only use it for basic things, however Apple comes out with a new version of their product usually once every year which means that within a few years the iPad 2 would become obsolete. Sorry for how long it was but i really need other people's opinions.