Do we need computer labs on campus?

With netbooks being readily available at very affordable prices even here in Australia do Universities need to continue to provide on campus computer facilities?

One of the cheapest netbooks in Australia the ASUS EEE PC 900 8.9" LCD 20GB Linux costs $385, little more than a few text books. Now while this may not be a powerful computer it will certainly allow a student to edit an assignment and use the internet for research. Most if not all Universities in Australia now how good wireless coverage, my iphone is always on a WiFi connection pretty much wherever I go at the University of Sydney.


The University of Virginia is set to to close most of its student computer labs by 2011 to save money but their chief information officer Mick McPherson says a U.Va report showed that 99 percent of students brought their own laptop to school. - (Ars Technica, 27 March 2009) For those students that can't afford a laptop perhaps Universities could have an equity program or allow laptops to be borrowed like books, a similar scheme is already in existence at Victoria University in Melbourne.

Disadvantages of not having computer labs?
Social interaction, many students learn from each other leaning over to the person next to them to ask for help but then maybe we're not talking about doing away with the computer rooms but redesigning them to be more social spaces with printing facilities, coffee machines, comfortable seating where students can bring their laptop and interact with each other in a comfortable space?