What is the Difference Between Email, IM, Discussion Forums, and Chat?
“What is the Difference Between Email, IM, Discussion Forums, and Chat?”Answer: I have received many letters asking for clarification of differences between email, instant messenger, chat, discussion forum, and mailing list. Most of these letters have come from brave grandmoms and granddads who regularly use their computers to talk to their grandkids. It is wonderful to hear that these folks are embracing the technology and putting it to great use. Let’s see if we can support them with some clear explanations: Question 1) What is Email? Answer: “Email” is short for “electronic mail” (yes, email is an official English word that requires no hyphen). Email is like an old fashioned letter but in electronic format sent from one computer to another. There is no going to the metal mailbox down the road, no envelopes to address and stamps to lick, yet email very much resembles the classic post office mail process. Most importantly: the email recipient does not have to be at their computer for
