I am 49. I can't help but wonder at aspects like "How does age/culture of the person in question impact this outcome?" I mean, I grew up with a rotary phone and a pet dinosaur, not a jillion and one ADHD-inducing distractions. I imagine I would take notes different from most of you young whippersnappers.
It is brutal to try to be sitting in the middle of a lecture hall trying to focus on a dimly lit academic at the same time as 20-50 future college dropouts flicker their laptops back and forth between facebook, twitter, and half-assed note taking attempts... this is only really a problem in intro level courses though.
NOW GET OFF MY LAWN.