Email vs. physical mail

I found it very interesting comparing and contrasting email vs. physical mail today in class. By breaking both down into their component parts we saw how similar each really are. However, it is not surprising that this is the case considering that the first postal system in this country was developed by one of brightest minds ever to exist, Benjamin Franklin. Adhering to the adage, "If it ain't broke don't try to fix it."

The similarities between email and physical mail are many. The structure of the two are comparable. Email servers handle email just like a post office would. The process of how email is distributed once it reaches the server is also the same. Lastly, the items that people transfer to one another via email, such as pictures, documents, and bills, are exactly the same.

The differences between email and physical mail are few and far between, but very important to consider. Speed is the first huge consideration. Cost is the second. Bulk mail (Spam) is the third.