[Air-l] Internet vs. WWW

[Neil Randall]

>Can my computer connect to other computers or receive data not on its
harddrive not via TCP/IP? If not, then my initial understanding of "the
Internet" was correct?

It's entirely possible to be connected with another computer, and in fact
entire networks, without using TCP/IP, in which case you're not technically
on the Internet. However, connections *entirely* without a TCP/IP segment
are increasingly rare in both corporate and non-corporate settings. However,
it's still not correct to say that simply being able to connect to another
computer puts you on the Internet. You need, for instance, an IP address.

That said, it's safe to assume at this stage that, when you connect a
personal computer to a remote resource such as an information store, you are
probably on the Internet. That's how widespread it's become. 

Neil