Apart from its appalling use of the non-word "laptopper"...
...here's an otherwise excellent post from FSP on the use - or possible misuse - of technology (specifically laptops, as you may have gleaned) in the conference setting:
http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2009/04/meeting-of-laptops.html
The existence of relatively unobtrusive netbooks isn't covered, but the issue of paper vs. tech is, and I share the sentiments expressed in the post.
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Edit: Meanwhile, the recent OU study (on behalf of HEFCE) "Diversity in the student learning experience and time devoted to study: a comparative analysis of the UK and European evidence" (http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2009/rd06_09/) doesn't paint British students as complete slackers:
"While the report shows that UK students spend fewer hours each week on their studies than other European students, it points out that this does not necessarily have a bearing on the quality of learning outcomes. It suggests that the tradition of greater autonomy in the UK student learning experience, and also the closing gap between full- and part-time may, in different ways, enhance the quality of learning." - http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/cheri.htm
What a relief.
http://science-professor.blogspot.com/2009/04/meeting-of-laptops.html
The existence of relatively unobtrusive netbooks isn't covered, but the issue of paper vs. tech is, and I share the sentiments expressed in the post.
___________________
Edit: Meanwhile, the recent OU study (on behalf of HEFCE) "Diversity in the student learning experience and time devoted to study: a comparative analysis of the UK and European evidence" (http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/rdreports/2009/rd06_09/) doesn't paint British students as complete slackers:
"While the report shows that UK students spend fewer hours each week on their studies than other European students, it points out that this does not necessarily have a bearing on the quality of learning outcomes. It suggests that the tradition of greater autonomy in the UK student learning experience, and also the closing gap between full- and part-time may, in different ways, enhance the quality of learning." - http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2009/cheri.htm
What a relief.