I wonder how prevalent PCs (laptops) are in colleges these days. I get the impression that college students are so used to their mobile phones that they will prefer to use the on-campus computer labs. That's what I did sometimes instead of using my laptop.
I taught physics labs 2018-2022 (before, during and after pandemic) and the students always worked on their laptops and I rarely found anyone without a laptop and have never seen someone "working" on a mobile device (including iPad). It is hard unless you are taking note during a lecture to use these devices (and the 6.5 inch devices is too small for effective note taking)
So I seen people using iPads/tablets in note taking and laptops for lab work. But never seen any useful usage of phones myself. Maybe that would be different experience. I myself was graduate student during this time and used iPad for note taking and of course used laptop for everything else including my research.
Now it is interesting that I daily drive my work using mini pc with pop os and the experience is very good.
I find phones from both an OS and general Human Interface Device standpoint to be subpar for any meaningful form of composition. Humans are adaptable and can manage amazing things even with tools barely fit for the job. However that same level of experience and training with a tool fit for the task would surely yield far better results.
Mobile computers do have their place, but the pocket form factor is at best a window to better tools that exist elsewhere. For my use cases they are primarily a communicator, occasionally media consumption device (E.G. if I'm on an airplane or something), and sometimes good for a quick reply in various electronic forms.
I suppose that if you're in a technical track it's more typical to lug a notebook around campus.
But what I observed in community college was classrooms full of desktop systems where the students were expected to log in and do classwork or keep up with a lecture. It was a hassle to shove those aside and interface a personal system with the campus network instead. (No you don't get an Ethernet port!)
Even the coffeehouse had desktop systems where I'd perch to do English homework. It was straightforward to go to the library and find a machine, check out a Chromebook for free, use their WiFi, or must you really bring your own?
In non-tech, General Ed classes, students brought their phones, period. They purchased/rented eBook textbooks and used their phones. I brought a notebook a couple of times and felt ridiculous.
Also, having a mobile phone is practically mandatory for students now, so if you're already carrying/charging/using the smartphone then it's illogical to possess a second device (that happens to be the #1 theft target as well.)
