In class, my laptop is never used for goofing off. Most of the professors I’ve had won’t let me use a laptop at all, though, because they’re convinced that no student is capable of exhibiting the self-control required to avoid goofing off. It’s quite frustrating, because I’m pretty much entirely incapable of taking notes by hand. My handwriting is legible, but way too slow. Also, my methods require the liquidity of non-paper notes.
I’ve explained all of this to professors in the past, but never to any avail. When they won’t budge, I make it clear that their policy will prevent me from being able to take notes. They never care, since they don’t think I would be taking notes anyway.
I don’t mean to blanket-vilify my professors, but this just happens to be a matter of particular frustration for me.
(addendum: This is most frustrating in those cases where professors grade the students’ notes at the end of the semester.)