Hobart John

Internet Offline or Online

 This is part of my DEN #6. Much of this DEN applies equally to Apple, Linux and PCs.

Internet Offline or Online

This is one of the many confusing subjects regards the Internet. Some of the "jargon" that people using the Internet need to learn. The Internet is the whole world wide system that encompasses the various parts. There are separate sections of it that are used for various reasons.

E-mail; probably the most popular part that allows the movement of Electronic Mail (E-mail) around the Internet.

WEB; the most valuable and time wasting part where people "surf the Net"; the World Wide Web (WEB).

USENET; not so popular these days. USENET or usually referred these days as Newgroups. One can ask for

There are other "parts" to the Internet but these three are probably the most popular. Some people may not agree with me here.

To use the three parts of the Internet, E-mail, Web and USENET, one needs appropriate software or applications. Here I define my notes to the Personal Computer (PC) and not to other platforms such as UNIX, Apple computers and so on. The PC software people can use for these parts of the Internet are usually referred to as Browsers. For most people the browsers for E-mail are:-

Outlook Express, Netscape, Eudora and Pegasus Mail.

Browsers for using the Web are:-

Netscape, Internet Explorer or Opera.

For USENET FreeAgent, Netscape and Internet Explorer and Opera.

In all three categories one can work OffLine with some (all?) of these Browsers.

I hope I can impart the difference between working Online and Offline to newbies (new people learning computers) as even in a personal classroom situation it's difficult to get the message through.

Offline.

In a sense we are all Off-line when we first use a computer or before it is setup to use the Internet. If there is no connection to the telephone or cable or wireless system or connected to a network as would be in a business office by the (person's) computer, one is Offline so to speak. Not connected to the outside world, Offline.

Online.

In Online mode the computer has a connection to the telephone system, cable, wireless or what ever. The computer is mechanically and electronically connected to the outside world, the Internet.

What makes it harder to understand these days I think is that the piece of hardware called a Modem, the metal/plastic box, is in many cases no longer a separate item, it is inside the computer. The Modem converts signals (data) from the computer to usable signals that can be sent over the telephone system or the other systems I mentioned above. Those who, like myself may have an external modem which is about the size of a cigar box, remember them? It sits close to the computer. It has about eight lights that flash on and off when it's in use. When connection to the outside world via the 'phone system is initiated, the lights flicker and usually a series of musical type tones are heard. One can easily tell what's happening.

With the other type of modem, the internal type which is inside the computer, it's not so evident that things are happening. There are some software indicators to show this but the effect is not as easily read.

Some newbies don't even know what the little computer icon at the right hand end on the Taskbar is for and I don't blame them as there are so many little icons and other items to keep an eye on. Once the connection is successful to the outside world, the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the other systems, one is then Online.

Here is an analogy.

Remember the old telephone Party Lines that used to connect people to each other who lived in the same town or closeby? Jim could speak to Mary and or Harry and so on depending how many were on the system. Similar to a network. One could say those people (Mary, Harry etc) are not connected to the outside world, Japan, Spain etc. One could say "Offline".

When Mary who is one of the Party Line people wanted to speak to someone in another city, state or country, they had to be connected via the various trunk line systems. One could now say "Online".

To make sure one is Offline just unplug the 'phone plug that plugs into the 'phone socket. One cannot be Online without the 'phone connection which could call/dial your ISP.

Once you are mechanically connected to the 'phone system, that is the 'phone line plug is plugged into the socket and you have dialed your ISP number, you have been charged the connection fee by the telephone company, 40cents or whatever and your password etc have been processed by the ISP and your details are correct, you are then Online.

You will be charged for the initial 'phone call and your ISP will commence charging you for your time or what ever your ISP package you signed up for, your ISP charges.

Offline = no money spent, Online = money spent.

I hope *you* can understand the differences. I know some people will think I have been a bit longwinded in my explanation but I can assure you that there are people who are using the Internet and *do not* know the difference! Exclamation mark!

Many things can be done Offline before going Online. Make yourself a coffee is one. E-mails can be typed and constructed. E-mails can be read that have been downloaded.

USENET messages can be typed. USENET headers and messages can be read that have been downloaded.

Web sites that you have been to and the data is still on your computer can be read and heard.

Only when you need to read more information from a Web site, send E-mails, download E-mails and/or read more information from USENET does one *have* to go Online. You connect your computer via the modem via the 'phone/cable system, pay more money.

I'm not going to tell you how to do things Offline. It varies with different software. It's up to *you* to find out. Save yourself some money!

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