I've found as well that paper works well for notes. The time you think you need to save by using a laptop will be eaten by the time you spend diddling with your laptop.

My tried and true method for paper-note-taking is to write down the big ideas within the talk or lecture -- the "subheads" if you will -- and then any other brainstorms that this makes me think of.

The key to making this successful is that it creates a simple, low-tech way for you to really actively listen to the speaker while capturing the nuggets that you truly don;t want to forget. The catch is that you must go back and process these notes right away by typing them into Backpack, Basecamp or a text file or OmniOutliner and adding your own context to the story while you still remember it. The immediacy is key, because it helps your brain fill in the things you didn't write down - so that your electronic version is coherent and complete.

What I've learned in my years is that your brain has immense capacity to understand complex concepts, relationships, and tangents. Your role is to jot down clues and notes that will help your brain regurgitate all this at a better time. There is no way to listen AND create a comprehensive study guide at the same time. The best study guide comes from the notes review process.