Tweetdeck

I posted a blog a few days ago about my surprisingly positive experience with using Twitter.  As a part of using Twitter, I've found there are many ways to update the "what are you  doing?" field.  I'll blog tomorrow about how I do this on the iPhone when I'm out and about, but the reality is that predominately, my time is for the most part spent in front of a computer.  

From a computer, you can of course simply update via the web when you are at www.twitter.com.  This works effectively, but I was looking for something more.  After trying a number of client apps I feel the best for me is a wonderful applications called Tweetdeck.

Tweetdeck uses columns to give you a kind of dashboard of all your Twitter activity.  It is an Adobe Air application, so you can easily install it on a Mac or Windows (not sure about Linux - their site doesn't mention it).  I have installed it on all the machines I work on and I leave it running all the time.  While I'm working, I get subtle alerts when there is a new Tweet.  If I'm not at my computer, when I bring up Tweetdeck it brings up all the info for me to see:  Tweets from all the people I am following, Tweets that are replies to me, Direct Messages for me.  I keep an added column open on the far righthand side that shows me TwitScoop trends - it is like a "cloud" of words that grows and shrinks in near real time (updated by the minute) that gives at a glance a snapshot of what people are Twittering about.    

Here is a video tutorial with tips on how to use Tweetdeck.

For me, Tweetdeck has become an indispensable application on my Mac and Window machines.  I launch it and use it as often as I do my email application.  If you are looking for a great desktop Twitter client, I'd highly recommend Tweetdeck.