On topic: I do not see myself taking blocking on an electronic device anytime in the near future. All it would take would be one poorly timed program crash, or the Windows blue screen of death and I'd throw in the towel for sure. Sure, Mr. Director, I can let you know where Actor Jones made that cross... I just need to reboot first, hold please.
Thread hijacking: I'm really surprised to hear so many Stage Managers have bad feelings about using laptops in rehearsals! While I completely understand all the distraction reasons outlined in previous posts, I guess I don't feel that those traits are necessarily connected to a laptop. If an ASM does not have the multi-tasking ability to see and hear that a director would like to run a scene again (and therefore the ASM should re-set) because he/she is taking a note... to me it doesn't matter if the ASM is TYPING that note or WRITING that note. The skill to multi-task is a skill that does not relate to what media you're multi-tasking in.
And if you're worried that the SM might be tempted to sneak onto Facebook, or SMNetwork, while he/she should be paying attention to rehearsal... well, without a laptop, that SM is probably texting friends, or doing crossword puzzles, or something else that a person with a lack of discipline does when he/she should be working. And the Prod. Asst. who types as if he's a jackhammer? I'm sure he's clicking his pen repeatedly, or chewing gum loudly, or some other annoying thing since he obviously has no understanding of what he is negatively contributing to the rehearsal environment with his excessive noise.
I find my laptop invaluable in rehearsal (and yes, I did do a keyboard test on all the ones I was considering to find the quietest model!). It does give me a leg up on getting reports done during the day, even if the only typing I do is on a break. Also, I would lose so much time not being able to receive, reply to, and communicate pertinent information to those in the rehearsal room if I could not get my email. How distracting is it if the Costume Shop Manager tries to sneak into the rehearsal room while you're in the middle of a scene? Or calls you on the phone? I find it so much easier to just see her email pop up on my screen instead saying "Big fitting problems, come see me next break!".
I work at a theatre who is run by a pair of gentlemen who are definitely of the "Old School" variety and I CERTAINLY had a hard time convincing them laptops were not just for games. But over the years, they've finally come around - they even installed internet access in the rehearsal room a couple of seasons ago! In fact, I think our dramaturgs are getting a bit of a break because now instead of questions going to them via notes, we just google everything in the rehearsal room
I hope this post made some sense... I just opened a show last night and am still in a bit of a Tech fog
Hope you all are enjoying your weekend!