consider a Tablet PC. You can write on the screen if you want, or use the keyboard. It would be very difficult for me to take notes on a normal laptop because I am in grad school for math, and I can't just type what the teacher is saying, too many pictures, and then the subscripts and superscripts and funny symbols, ugh.
I write my notes out on engineering paper or on a legal pad, then I rewrite them in a hardback book. I just look for journals in bookstores. Usually I can find them for less than 5 bucks. Its nice cause i know that my notes will stay in good shape for a while to come, and I seem to have to review my notes even after my class is over, for different classes.
Thinkpad Tablet PC Link