Actually, there was an "internet" before the internet. See, instead of callin an ISP.. you called a BBS. Each node/user connection had to have it\'s own modem, so the really good ones that could allow 5 or more ppl on at once we\'re pretty hard to afford. Usually they were pretty self containted, but ocassionally you could find one with a node dedicated to dialing out to other BBS\'s. This is probably the earliest mode of "surfing" for the general public.
You didn\'t click on links, you hit keys on your Keyboard. Like F for the [F]ile menu. There we\'re no pictures or Flash media.. it was pretty limited to ANSI graphics, PC speaker bleeps, and the ocassional MIDI.
The COOL thing was, that like here.. we all live far apart. Most of us can\'t just jump in our cars and be at another members house in 10 mintues. With a BBS, you can since most of the people online are from your local calling area. Meeting people from Tibet and Indonesia is cool and all... but its pretty much blind luck if you ever come across someone from your area on the net. That sucks.
I tell you what too... there was a whole lot less shyt talkin on BBS\'s too since the person you mouth off to could be living just down the street from you.
In fact, those of you in bigger cities probably still have a few in operation... and the "browser" is still built into windows. It\'s called "HyperTerminal".. although I prefer RipTerm over HT anyday.
