I agree with his conclusion. Open laptops degrade the classroom experience -- especially when the classes (like Clay's) are meant to be both lectures and conversations. Behind laptops, too many students seem to treat the class itself like a television program that happens to be running in the background. Instead of something they need to actively engage with.

Note-taking is the only thing I'm concerned about interfering with. I think note-taking can actually increase engagement with the content. Going back to pen and paper feels weird. But so does expecting students to just take notes on a device that, as Shirky notes, is pretty much designed for distraction.