I'm dorkily interested in this debate - I was always told the birth of the Internet was 1981 which was when (was it?) ARPA-net opened up. I think the diff between 69 and 81 is in the conceopt that the Internet is a network OF networks - but v happy to be told I'm wrong by an expert :)

I'm actually amazed 89 is the birth of the Web. I heard nothing of it till 93 - what WAS I doing? :) (Actually moving location, house, job and longterm partner. i guess I was a tad dstracted :)