I agree with parts of this article.. but I think the Laptop aspect is not the issue here. For example, I work at a large well-known company and attend many long meetings. During these meetings, EVERYONE has their laptop open. It simply isn't an issue. Meeting agendas are well constructed and sent in advance, thus I might attend knowing that the portion concerning me is within the last half. Obviously I'm only paying half-attention to both the meeting and my work, but in the end, I have a rough idea of what's going on in the project, I haven't completely wasted the rest of the meeting time, and I've paid full attention during the parts that concern me.

In short, laptops aren't the issue... it's the quality of meeting, and your self control during that time. Believe me, I could just as easily choose to zone out of a boring meeting by daydreaming if I didn't bring my laptop.