I'm an engineering student and I noticed a few students last semester taking notes on iPads. I ask one guy about it and he said he kept notes for all his classes, tests, and digital copies of his textbooks on his iPad so all he had to lug around campus was and iPad, calculator, and a few pencils.
Only draw back was apparently the stylus used to write with was fairly fat, which he didn't like.
I know nothing else about tablets, so any tips, tricks, apps, or any other info is greatly appreciated.