For years the PC convertibles were the best education tool combining large screens, keyboards and pen/inkable but, they were Expensive, bulky and unreliable.
The newest thinbook convertibles/hybrids will be the best thing in a long while, Yes, that includes the iPad (the email, internet, cheap gaming, piece of over-hyped answer to all edu's problems).
I will push my school to seriously look at the Lenovo Thinkpad (Lynx). A hybrid slate is what they should call it. Another thing that will be great is the classroom management software they will include, it's why they bought the software company.