[Techhexium]

For the kind of laptop that is used for daily school work, portability and long battery life is required, so screen size should either be 14, 15.6 inches or netbook size. Laptops that cost $600 or less are good for this. Software that can allow students to take notes better would be useful, such as Microsoft OneNote / Word or an iPad.

But personally, I don't think students should be given laptops. Two problems I can foresee is theft (I am always afraid of losing things or having it stolen) and the likely dearth of computer literacy among students, so they may raise questions about using the technology.

Some good alternatives have already been suggested. I think the teacher would benefit from a up-to-date laptop and a projector, and the classroom may also benefit from having a few computers for the students to access.

Now in California, schools, especially my school are still facing budget cuts (Our Pre-Calculus textbooks are from 1986!), so I think another good idea is for the state government to save some money in general.