You can add literally any program to a computer. Since it is a mainstream device, the availability of applications is almost boundless. This is not so of adaptive notetakers. Similarly, you can hook up a multitude of peripherals to a computer. This is, again, not true of adaptive notetakers.
Many students have computers on campus.
So if you run into a problem, chances are there are people who can help. However, not many people have the adaptive notetakers, so getting help is much harder. All colleges have computer labs where you can go to use public computers. Even if there are accessible public computers, having a computer of your own provides great flexibility. A notebook computer provides desktop power in a small portable package.