[tygorius]

Well, it depends a bit on what pre-internet era you're talking about. When I think back to the 1960s and 1970s in the US, the first difference that strikes me is that we were resource-bound.

* Hardware was expensive, so back in the age of minicoputers _you_ went to the computer. And perhaps first to the card punch room to make changes to your deck. (Painful memories.)

* Connectivity was both expensive and slow. Anyone remember acoustic couplers? Don Lancaster's revolutionary TV typewriter? Their financial heart attack when the first BBS phone bill came in?

* Information was obvious scarcer, but it could be found if you networked in meatspace. Lots of interesting conversations to be had at the local electronics shop or campus computer center.