> The question as asked confounds two separate issues. (1) If the question is whether to deliver content on a computer or a book, the answer is clearly a book. It is less expensive than a laptop (although the way textbook prices are rising and computer costs are falling this may change very soon), more reliable, and media studies dating back to the 70's predict there will be no differences in learning. Even with mutlimedia, it is not clear that students learn information better than from a book. (2) However, if the question is whether a textbook or a laptop would better support the complex problem-solving being called for in new standards, the laptop is the clear winner because of its power as a productivity tool to build models, create graphics, run simulations, etc. In attempting to address this issue, one has to think deeply about their philosophy of education and pick the media that mose efficiently matches that philosophy in terms of maximizing learnig outcomes and minimizing costs.

Your observations seem to point to a solution which mixes the different technologies in varying ratios depending on the grade level, subject area and special circumstances.