More Professors Ban Laptops in Class

I'm a junior, soon to be a senior in college and for half of my time at William and Mary I took notes the normal way, with a pen and paper. For the other half, I've been taking my 12 inch powerbook with me to class. I would have to say that there are some computers that are good for taking to class, while others aren't so great. I have been in classes before when people typing on their computers has been distracting, but that is only because they aren't aware of how loud they are being (or don't care). I always make sure that I type as quietly as possible, and if someone seems to be getting annoyed, I resort back to paper. Additionally, it is not exactly like a stenographer in court, as they use a special code and take down every word spoken. Many times, I finish typing a powerpoint slide faster than most people write, and then I am able to listen to the professor talk about it and add things in to my notes as I wish, which is much harder to do on paper than on a computer. If the class is interesting and the professor keeps the pace of class up, then I hardly find myself at all distracted by my computer. However if the class is boring, or if the professor is a little long-winded on subjects, then my mind might start to wander, as does everyone else's in the class, and then I might go check newsvine. But the second the professor changes the subject and picks the pace back up again, I'm back, just like everyone else. So, after this very long winded comment, I must say that computers only affect learning in the same way that doodling on your notebook does. To have professors ban laptops in the class is their choice, but I think that it might be rooted in jealousy, seeing that we get to use this type of technology in class and they didn't even get the chance, sort of like old school vs. new school.