Need help with barcode scanner / inventory management

[mkx]

I am looking to develop a custom inventory management system for a business. I spent $300 on a stupid Motorola symbol m500 or whatever which is so oldschool it can hardly connect to the internet nor figure out for shit. Then I spent $10 on a use symbol USB barcode scanner which is perfect, I scan a barcode and it types the barcode results on my computer just like a keyboard. The only problem is I don't want to have to carry a laptop around to do inventory management.

The script to make use of the barcode scans will likely be php based in real time.

Anyone know of a good modern tablet pc or handheld that will do the trick? Either one that has an option to plug in a USB barcode reader or one that has one built in that mimics the keyboard.

Hope someone can help, I know a lot of you know this kinda stuff

[darksoul]

there are apps for iphone and android that can do that.
You could mod them to do your task