In the fall of 2006, students could purchase an entry-level notebook computer with a 15-inch LCD for $500. This price crossed an important threshold, moving notebooks into the range of consumer electronics--the category of phenomena that fuels mass consumer trends such as cell phones, digital cameras, and iPods. Most colleges and universities today operate computer labs, and notebooks have the potential of turning all classrooms into active and learning environments. In this article, the author shares actual notebook university costs and compares them with general-purpose computer laboratory models and other notebook approaches likely to be used in one of the next inevitable waves of technological transformation that will soon flood campuses. (Contains 1 table and 1 endnote.)