Alright, so my sister had the brilliant idea of getting my mother a cheap tablet and a magnifying app to assist with reading and spontaneously reading things like medicine labels.  So what's the best cheap tablet for this?  Kindle Fire?  Anyone know of a magnifying app that deshakes?  My mother does, indeed, have the tremors.

ipad 1

My dad has a pretty bad tremor and can get around the iPad pretty well.

I have a Nexus 7 and an iPad and while I like both I'd not subject Android on most people older than I. iPad +3. With the 1G iPad memory issues though I'd encourage you to jump to 2G at least (refurb or whatever). 

As Ric said, I wouldn't buy anything older than a 2nd gen iPad at this point.  My 2G stutters pretty badly on some stuff as it is, I can't imagine what an OG would be like.

Is it just me - I don't consider the ipad 2 - cheap... 

I gave my mom my old iPad 1. She likes it because it's easy to use and she can't screw it up (she's not friendly with computers). That said, it doesn't have a camera so the magnifying feature you need is out. Seeing as my mom told me she finds the iPad a bit heavy at times, perhaps maybe an iPad mini would be better for your mother?

Is it just me - I don't consider the ipad 2 - cheap... 

Yeah, considering it's basically a glorified magnifying glass, I'm thinking of getting her a -- wait for it -- non-glorified magnifying glass...and maybe one of those helping hands things.

Apple iPad 2 16GB WiFi for $319 http://dealmac.com/iphone/deals/681814.html

http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Magnifier-Clamp-Desktop-Base/dp/B000186ZGY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1363905290&sr=8-10&keywords=4x+magnifying+glass

 

$23

My father in law did well with one of these Excellent for soldering, too )