I think what I "hear" scoot intimating was that the distraction level of an SM staring at a laptop is more than likely higher than that of an SM concentrating on his/her book. Is this close, scoot?
I can think of a dozen reasons why IM programs in the rehearsal hall might be good and another dozen why they might be bad (which is why I started the poll to ask all of you for your opinions
. I agree with scoot that, while utilizing the fabulous technology of the laptop in rehearsal can be a time-saving endeavor, sometimes it's intrusive. I once worked with an SM who had fake enamel nails and the tick-tick-tick sound of her typing, even to enter a note into the rehearsal report, drove me B-A-T-T-Y. I silently wished for her to pick up a pencil and do it the old fashioned way. I'm all for technology that makes stage managing more efficient, but I also see the trend towards the impersonal, like some of you have already mentioned.
When the voting closes, I'll post the consensus.