Get a desktop with an LCD monitor. There is special adhesive glue you can get that is very, very strong and will prevent anyone taking the computer with them, unless of course they don't mind having the desk too.
You can get cable locks, but make sure you get strong ones or else some enterprising individual can come along with a bolt cutter of some sort and take it.
As stated before, I didn't know anyone with laptops in school who actually took notes in class. Sitting at a desk attempting to take notes fast while the teacher is writing on the board or talking is difficult unless you have very good typing skills.
Laptops are more difficult than desktops to fix and therefore more expensive. It will be a drain on your bank account and stressful for your child if they don't have one at their disposal when they need it.
Two things I can suggest:
1. Using open formats to save files. If your child looses out on the desktop or laptop, they can send the documents to someone else who can open and print it off if need be. There are
viewers for Microsoft Office. If you cannot use these, having open formats allow for other office suites to open, view and print them with ease.
2. Using online backup sites like
Yahoo! Briefcase or
X-Drive are essential. Professors
will not accept excuses for a crashed computer nowadays. It's cheap.