LiterSide

If a goal in education is to teach the using technology student already have, then why the big push to put a laptop in all student hands. In many (and I would venture to guess most) homes students need to share computer time with other family members. Wouldn't it be more practical to encourage the use of computers in a similar shared way in the classroom. I know there are some students who have their own computer, but couldn't teaching be built around having one computer for ever 3-4 students in the classroom and having the lab for the necessary individual work.
Laptop computers have been expensive to maintain and have a shorter life than an equivalent desktop and thus very cost prohibitive. I am in a lifelong quest to find a computer for classroom use that can replace the textbook (many texts are available on CD or online). I want all the convenience of textbook. It has to be ready to go as fast as opening to the page. As easy to maintain as taping a rip, gluing a binding or even just skipping over the missing page, and it can be put away in a matter of seconds. It needs to last 7 or more year, with no need to upgrade. The ability to take it home isn't necessary, because there will be a small set available for checkout from the library. If anyone has this technology please post comment.
One thing that I have been looking at is a multiheaded linux machine. One computer up to 10 keyboard, mice, displays. Set up as a Kiosk type machine where it is secure but available for wordprocessing and internet searches as well as the countless other available open source titles.