Playing poker online is very similar to playing in person, but the experience is definitely different as you can't see the people you're playing against and are therefore unable to read their expressions or sweaty palms while you play.
Still, what you can do online is play without any distractions,  make notes on your competitors and play discreetly and strategically. There's no evidence to suggest that Live Poker is any easier than playing the game for real but it certainly is a different experience.