new Ipad is perfect for Skype, Facetime, webex, etc. Ipad2's camera was not sufficient but new Ipad works great.
Laptops with their small removable parts, power cords, outlet voltage, and excessive heat are not the safest device for a toddler.
At about two years of age, toddlers start asserting themselves by throwing temper tantrums - do not leave one unattended, even
with an Ipad; glass display can break if device is thrown or smashed with another toy.
Benefit of getting an Ipad is there are a lot of games for 1 to 3 year olds. Peekaboo Farm, Elmo Calls, etc seem to entertain
them for 10 - 15 minutes. Learning curve for iOS is about ten minutes. (more for adults who keep trying to "click" on stuff)

I think you need SpinRite. It's important for disks to be read once in a while, to "re-magnetize" disk surface; the same goes for your hard drives.