I think we are all looking at it the wrong way, the assumption that only IT students should get a laptop and Engineer, Doctors et al do not need them is not well founded. Am a trained engineer so is a guy who trained before me but never got a chance to interact with  Computers at that critical age in High school and campus. I was lucky enough to be and most of the things that I know today are probably from that time. He is still in the dark in many things. If I was exposed to computers early say even when I was younger in Primary and the like I would have gained the same or even more and at an even early age. I view the laptops as an 'eye' opener they are fascinating, they are interesting, believe you me the kids will even learn faster than they would have without them.