Don't Back Down

I've mentioned before (more than once, in fact) that I don't much care for social networking. This could be for two reasons. Either I just don't get it - a distinct possibility - or because I'm just not very social - also quite possible (in fact, quite possibly even more likely). For one reason or another, I haven't really managed to get into Twitter, though I've tried a few times. I want to like the service, but I just couldn't get into it. I finally figured out that the problem wasn't so much that I didn't like it, the problem was in how I was using it.

The other day as I was chatting with a friend (not on Twitter), I mentioned my confusion, and he pointed me to a series on the use of Twitter from Jennifer Laycock of Search Engine Guide. At this point, I should mention that Search Engine Guide, and by extension Jennifer, are customers of mine in my Movable Type Consulting business. But that doesn't mean she doesn't know what she's talking about. In any case, she has so far put together three parts in her series (one, two, three). It's worth reading, but ultimately all it did was get me moving in the right direction. I had to find a good client to really get attached.

It's not that Jennifer didn't make some good points - she did, and they are perfectly valid. In fact, they are points made elsewhere (similar posts have been made recently on Problogger). What they did was convince me that it was time for me to take another look, and I did decide that I should at least hook up with a few other people on Twitter. If you use the lingo, these are called Tweeple. Frankly, I think that sounds idiotic. Even in the welcome letter, they say "Welcome, Twiter-er", which is much better, and since a premium is on the length of your posts after all, I have no problem at all being called a Twit. It wouldn't be the first - or last - time. So use whatever you like.

What you will find out is that you can use the web to easily send your Tweets (those short messages) from the web site, but it's not easy keeping a web page open for it, even if you use tabs. I just couldn't get the hang of it. So I searched for an alternative. You can use a phone or an IM client, and I tried using IM for a while, but though it works, it's just not intuitive. I eventually found my way to the Apps section of the Fan Wiki, which I have come to believe is the mother lode.

I promptly downloaded at least half-a-dozen clients.

Of course, TwitBox was the first, since it said that it was the *BEST* Windows Client (that's the problem with Wikis). I found that it just didn't work well, for me anyway. As I get older, I discover - or realize that I'm very particular in the way that I do things, and if something isn't just so, then I can't handle it. So I moved on. I tried Twitterlicious, which is free, but it's rather basic. You just don't have the options for really getting into the service. Nice if you want basic, but not if you really want to make use of all that Twitter has to offer (and I did).

I skipped Pwytter because I couldn't pronounce it (and I don't have Python installed), avoided TwitterYM because I don't have Ruby and teletwitter was also rather basic. Now that I knew what I was looking for, it was getting easier to discard apps I didn't want. Any gadgets (for Vista) or messenger apps.

I tried Twitteroo, but ultimately it was just a bit too poofy for me - and ultimately it didn't do what I wanted either. MadTwitter looked promising, but again it was just too simple for my needs. Or perhaps I just couldn't figure out how to do the more complex items. It could certainly be something on my end. Witty seemed very nice, and appears to support XP, but I couldn't even get it to run, and that, alas, is a requirement that I couldn't skip.

Finally I found twhirl. The name is wacky, and I don't really care for the fact that I have to run Adobe AIR (I don't even really care to run Microsoft .NET), but I have to say that the interface is incredible. Minutes after installing, I was easily accessing all of my Tweets, and once there, I could reply to them, send direct messages, add as favorites, re-tweet, search, lookup, and view just about any aspect that I need to. This has gone on longer than I intended, so I may go into the features in another post. Let me just say that having a real client makes Twitter worthwhile - don't discount the importance of using the right tool for the job!

And for those that are asking - yes, I tried tweetbar, twitbin and TwitterFox too. I couldn't get the hang of the sidebar. It just took up too much room in my browser, and when I opened my bookmarks, it closed Twitter. That wouldn't do. I did like tweetbar other than that. TwitterFox is pretty cool for a lightweight client that gives me the basics. Twhirl is definitely the big daddy, however.

Update: There are other AIR-powered clients. I don't really like Spaz, mostly because the mouse seems all wacky - I'll grab onto an edge (usually in a dialog) and I can't let go. Ever. Tweetr is a bit too limited.

Snitter, however, is pretty nice. I especially like the filter and search tools that it offers, both of which are just a bit nicer than they are in twhirl (twhirl has both). I also like the ability to jump directly to the tweet in question, especially on replies - rather than the user. It's just nice a nice feature (are you listening, twhirl developers?). At the same time, I haven't been able to figure out if you can follow someone in Snitter, something you can do in twhirl. All-in-all, I'd say that twhirl is just a more polished app, but I like new and shiny things, so I'm currently debating whether to stick with Twhirl or jump ship. What do you think?