Going back to school for the first time in ten years, I just purchased a small little netbook specifically for classroom use. I don't know how effective it will be in my math classes since drawing graphs and jotting down formulas is impossible to do quickly with a keyboard and mouse, but I expect to get a lot of use out of it for my writing classes. I also hope to record class lectures to it if the professors are ok with it. I think it really depends on the class and the subject matter. I can think of a ton of responsible ways to use my laptop while in most classes, but I can also see how horribly distracting even legitimate use could be to someone who's not accustomed to it. The article definitely raises some valid concerns, but ultimately, I think it's up to the student to take responsibility for their own learning. Environmental factors can certainly be an influence in how easy it is to learn in a given environment, but it really is up to the student to make the best of it regardless of what else may be going on around them. I wouldn't be against cutting off internet access while in class though... Of course, that is my current opinion, which is subject to change if I find that it just doesn't work for me...