DISQUS

Engago Team · 10 months ago

Aren't downloadsoftwares OUT?
In any case a download is a hurdle in deployment.

Rodney Rumford · 10 months ago

I am all over the tweetdeck. i remember when he was taking donations to support development efforts and i paypaled him something like 10 or 20 bucks. ;) It continues to improve and i just like it so much better for so many reasons. not even close from my perspective; tho both are good.

Martin · 10 months ago

I like twhirl for the ping.fm and use this for putting my posts out from my laptop, but i like the grouping of tweetdeck which i use for watching friends tweets and tech tweets etc.

really i like both but for differing reasons.

ADwyer · 10 months ago

I prefer Tweetdeck, it is organised and easier to use for a non-techie. And I love its soothing cooing.

MobbyG · 10 months ago

I use Twhirl simply because I have yet to find anything comparable. Now Tweetdeck does sound nice so I may try it for a day, and see how it works, but for functionality, Twhirl is all she wrote.

urbanbohemian · 10 months ago

I tried an early version of TweetDeck and it scared me, so I was Twhirl all the way. Then I heard that TweetDeck had updated/improved, so I went back to it and loved it. I'm not a "social media professional" though, so I really only had columns for "everyone" and "local friends" in addition to the others.

Now that I'm hearing Twhirl's gone through an update, I'll give it a new look. There's no real war of the clients for me, it's whichever is more suited to my mood. I've never been a fan of seesmic, but site-integration has always drawn me to both apps.

Thanks for the notice re: Twhirl!

[urbanbohemian on twitter]

Arturo Servin · 10 months ago

If you use twitter to keep in touch with your friends, to read some news and to chat I think twirl will do the job, also if you use friendfeed. But if you use twitter like a data mine to extract news, new trends or to follow some topics twittdeck is the best. However, for me tweetdeck is still missing some UI features in order to follow more topics/trends. So far with a normal screen I can just have like 5 tabs without feeling again the messiness of the web/twirl interface.

eDDy · 10 months ago

My choice is TweetDeck.

But if Splitweet turns their service into a nice Air App, I think it could become a big new challenger to TD or Thwirl.

Monique · 10 months ago

Good post. I definitely have to go with TweetDeck. I've tried Twhirl, Twitterific, and a slue of other apps both on my MBP. I really like the ability to have so many columns open at once and to follow not only the "main" conversation traffic of all friends, but the direct messages, replies, TwitScoop, etc. It feels more involved than some of the more simple apps and I guess I feel I get more out of it. (Only thing I didn't like is the icon which looked horrible in my dock next to more detailed icons. I quickly switched that out.)

Vote: TweetDeck

Tyler · 10 months ago

I switched from Twhirl to TweetDeck about a month ago.... I now wish I would have sooner! I love the way you can create custom search columns, which is great for keeping on top of the latest news for a specific thing.

® Andy · 10 months ago

I keep trying to like TweetDeck and indeed gave it another go last night, but its UI has too many niggling faults for me still. From small things like font choice/size; the fact that it puts tweeter/time details at the bottom of each tweet often with a chunk of whitespace between those details and the tweet, but directly above the avatar for the following tweet; the weak unread count marker and how it marks things as read or doesn't ... something very important when tweets will be in multiple columns. So in net a good idea with a (currently) flawed UI to my eyes, though of course UI is very much about personal taste!

Twhirl therefore remains my main Twitter client and indeed I've been part of TeamSeesmic for the recent update. It's simple, but effective. Let's me tailor it enough to make me happy, and ultimately by only having a single stream it's easy to read. Downside of course is the "wood for trees" problem that TweetDeck tackles.

So the slickness of Twhirl, with the tailorable multi-columns like TweetDeck please!

P Shah · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck. I like the ability to create groups, track replies and follow specific phrases for clients. Also, I find that the TwitScoop column has a jump on virtually all news services and visually demonstrates which themes are most discussed.

However, I wish it didn't have a limit on the amount of columns you can create. Although, I find myself glued to it and am probably diminishing in productivity.

bencapozzi · 10 months ago

Twhirl, hands down. Uses less computer resources, pleasant interface, and doesn't take over my screen. But as you mention, Robert, some folks are after that. I'm not.

~benc

Sean Brady · 10 months ago

Since I switched from Twhirl to Tweetdeck I have missed less direct and reply messages, and I am able to follow events more effectively. I found that thinks go lost in Twhirls endless tape of tweets, and for some reason it is inconvenient to switch to the reply or direct's tab in Thwirl. Maybe I am just to lazy. Tweetdeck for me.

Frances Flynn Thorsen · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck is my hands down favorite. You make an excellent point about suitability for journalist application.

One of my favorite Twitter activities is reporting events, using hashtags. I set up a column to show the hashtag comments in real time. I have an opportunity to manage Replies as well and interact with other Twitterers as they respond to my posts.

There is a built-in tool for issuing posts from Tweetdeck including Replies (that all can see), Direct Messages (for the eyes of the recipient only), Tweets (user initiated posts for all eyes) and ReTweets (copies another message and posts to one's own followers).

My Tweetdeck works with a default setting that gathers new messages at 12-second intervals. The software sits quietly in my taskbar as short bursts of Tweetdeck notifications appear in the right hand uppper corner of my screen announcing "12 All Friends" (12 of your friends have written posts.

It takes some resolve to resist the urge to click that notification box, which opens the desktop window. When there is a message that says "1 Direct Message" or "1 Reply" or it points to a hashtag I follow closely, I often make a choice to make an immediate response. That choice may be less important if I am working on a higher priority task.

stevenimmons · 10 months ago

It's TweetDeck most of the time for me, although I also use Friendfeed as a 'kind of client'. I hadn't realised Twhirl had gone to Seesmic - interesting.

I'd pay for the tools if they provided inbound semantic filters. The first one I want is a 'platitude blocker' :-)

So I guess given your listening triggers the ultimate Scoble alarm Tweet would be:
"Hi #Ted, read on #TechCrunch that #Scoble aka #Scobleizer is seeding #Google #Cloud? Darn rain-makers!"

Daryl Walker-Smith · 10 months ago

I started out with Twhirl for it's ease of use - and as a good way to start Tweeting but as the list of people I follow increased I found TweetDeck a better app funcionality-wise (although the learning curve is slightly steeper than that of Twhirl)

http://twitter.com/darylsws

MacSmiley · 10 months ago

Sorry, Robert. I abhor ALL these Adobe Air apps. They all look like they're a chunk of Windows PC on my desktop.

The biggest problem is the font-smoothing...er... lack thereof, actually. I don't expect x-platform apps to work with the finesse of Mac app. But after 6 1/2 years on a Mac, there's no way I'm going back to electrocution-style text rendering.

Shazza · 10 months ago

I am so racked off with this new sucky version of Twhirl! I love Twhirl usually; but this one has a spellchecker that's only programmed for American spellings only.

I'm a Brit - We spell things differently here. Which one is right? You decide. Nevertheless that fact remains. I spell favour thus. I spell centre thus.... Et Cetera. I refuse to speak American for an app. I only try to write in American, to some degree of success, when I write articles for American websites. Otherwise I'm a Brit and I tweet in Brit. I socialise in Brit too. The last thing I want is an app trying to force me to do everything in American. - The only time I'll ever try to do that is if I move to the States.

- I have so gone off Twhirl!

Jamie Martin · 10 months ago

You can put DestroyTwitter into columns, I'd recommend trying that too.

http://www.destroytoday.com/projects/destroytwi...

Mickey · 10 months ago

TweetDeck all the way, used in a similar manner as Scoble. I have an old XP laptop that's nearly dead (overheats, worthless battery, large vertical strip in the screen), but it's PERFECT for TweetDeck. I keep it on a cooling tray, plugged in, and line up the vertical dead zone to be between two columns in TD. Wonderful solution.

Michael @ My Aching Head · 10 months ago

Robert, if you aren't a twitter addict you can pretty much skip any of you posts these days.

francinehardaway · 10 months ago

I like Twhirl, because the windows are separate and I can open and close them separately (yes, I know you can alter the columns on Tweetdeck, but it doesn't seems as intuitive to me). I manage 3 Twitter accounts, Friendfeed, and Seesmic with them. I couldn't do that with Tweetdeck or I'd have elevent columns running across the screen of an Air :-) With Twhirl, I can make the windows transparent, or use Spaces: I just find it more malleable. This is not, however, a diss of Tweetdeck. I see its uses.

Jure Cuhalev · 10 months ago

A useful hint for TweetDeck: you can use "OR" for searches, so

"Scoble OR Scobleizer" etc. to save on columns :)

Stefan Constantinescu · 10 months ago

TweetDeck for sure! I love the UI, but it terribly, TERRIBLY needs hot keys.

I submitted this proposal to the TweetDeck developer, maybe if he hears it coming out of your mouth then he'll pay more attention:

"The people who use tweetdeck are semi advanced internet users. They
probably know that ctrl+tab switches tabs in Firefox and that j and k
are used to control Google Reader.

Here is a proposal, one of the many I'm sure you receive on a daily basis:

Ctrl+tab should be used to switch between columns.

The active column should have some sort of border around it so it is
very easy to tell which is the active column.

The j key should scroll you down a column tweet by tweet, the k key
should scroll you right back up.

The s key should retweet a tweet since "staring" something in Google
Reader or Gmail is pretty much the same thing as favorting something
on twitter.

The c key should send a direct message since in Gmail the c key is
used to compose a new message.

The r key should be used for replying to a tweet for the same reason
mentioned above.

Let me know what you think about these suggestions and feel free to
bounce some ideas off of me. If you ever need an alpha tester, let me
know."

alexandremrj · 10 months ago

I tried twirl and figured that for that I will use the pidgin plugin and simply update twitter from my IM.

I really like TweetDeck because of the column layout but then I have no problems with space - my second monitor runs TweetDeck and IM and the music player.

I think TweetDeck has to update and use themes but for addicts on Twitter it beats Twhirl.

Michael Gaines · 10 months ago

Twhirl is best if you have more than one account to follow.
Tweetdeck is best if you have only one account to follow.

That said, Tweetdeck still needs some improvement which I was told were coming, but never did. For example: the ability for the app to alert you ONLY when you get an @ or a DM. I'd also like some more control over the sizes of my columns.

But since I track 4 accounts (2 Twitter, 1 Seesmic, 1 FF), I stick with Twhirl.

markaw · 10 months ago

Giving me the ability to upload/host video on Tweetdeck and I've just reached heaven.

Paul W. Swansen · 10 months ago

I don't use either program as neither one works on either my Intel iMac or my Netbook.

Jeremey Barrett · 10 months ago

TweetDeck for me. I really dislike AIR apps (would prefer Mac-native), but TweetDeck is what I need to function on Twitter. I have several major interests and corresponding networks (locals, coffee, software, social media, ...) on Twitter, and being able to separate those into groups is invaluable. It's the difference between missing most of what's going on and being able to keep up and interact.

TweetDeck needs some UI tweaks and additional granular configuration, but it's such a good tool that I overlook those things.

Rik · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck hands down. Priceless features to me are:
1) Ability to divide my tweeps into groups.
2) Ability to mark tweets as read and clear.
3) Separate cols for replies, dm & the rest.

Dave Zatz · 10 months ago

I don't want Twitter taking over my entire screen or my entire life. I'm very happy with TwitterFox. It's a Firefox plugin. It's ever-present, but inconspicuous until I call for it. Probably not suitable for the number of folks Scoble interacts with, but great for the rest of us.

PT · 10 months ago

DestroyTwitter here since I first read about it...

But between tweetdeck and twhirl, I have to say Tweetdeck

owen · 10 months ago

Has to be Twhirl for me. Twitter is something I do alongside the rest of my life .. it's NOT the whole of my life ..

Lorin Olsen · 10 months ago

I use both. Tweetdeck is fantastic when I am immersed in Twitter. But if I need to interact with Friendfeed, Identi.ca and others, Twhirl is the only way to go. Right now, I don't need a "Highlander" tool that will slay all other tools on my desktop. That will come from Microsoft - someday. ;-) But for now, I will use both.

Rahsheen · 10 months ago

One thing many people are missing is that Twhirl also has the ability to track keywords via saved searches, which is all Tweetdeck is doing with it's columns.

Ping.fm, Seesmic, and Identi.ca integration are a definite plus for Twhirl.

I think the primary difference between the two is interface. Do you want Twitter to own your desktop or not?

Tim · 10 months ago

DestroyTwitter is my app of choice. Beats Twhirl any day

http://www.destroytoday.com/projects/destroytwi...

JonBishop · 10 months ago

I have both but rarely use TweetDeck. Maybe it's because it reminds me of an IM client. I also like the ability to have multiple accounts open at once.

I'm also just getting into Seesmic, so being able to record right form the App is great.

Adam · 10 months ago

TweetDeck. In addition to the river, I'm able to sort out the @replies (@rockmanac in my case, btw.), the DMs, and groups for local people, friends, and local/national/breaking news.

Billee D. · 10 months ago

+1 for Twhirl. Tweetdeck is nice for all the reasons that you mentioned, but Twhirl is ust small and doesn't get in the way. I really like the way that it loses opacity when it loses window focus. It's a great tool.

Phil Baumann · 10 months ago

TweetDeck (for now).

But: if Twhirl adds Groups, it could win me back (there's something about those dings/chimes for replies/directs in Twhirl).

Rick Castello (@Fungible) · 10 months ago

Definitely Twhirl.

If you don't have anything else do to but watch Twitter, or don't have a separate computer (or monitor) to give over entirely to TweetDeck, it's just too big.

It'd be one thing if you *could* minimize it to normal window proportions, then click a tab to "supersize" it when you want the in-depth look... I'd go for that.

Then again, I'd probably still prefer it if Twhirl would introduce Groups in tabs, to give the TweetDeck functionality without the footprint...

-@fungible

Jillian Koeneman · 10 months ago

I prefer TweetDeck, but I love that you can manage your multiple Twitter accounts with Twhirl. Now if only we could combine the two. :)

dragonblogger · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck by far is better, and on a 24" wide screen monitor I only need the primary 3 columns and it only takes up about 1/4 of the screen so I don't mind it being open all the time.

Twirl just too time consuming to tab back and forth to see reply's and direct messages. SPAZ for unix is cool though because it color codes direct and reply messages so you can pick them out pretty easily, wish Twirl would do the same thing (and tweetdeck actually).

steve clayton · 10 months ago

Twhirl for the reason you mention - it's like an IM window.
however, I like your description of how you use TweetDeck...I may have found a use for my MacBook Pro :)

Jonathan · 10 months ago

Gwibber, Gnome-Do, and TwitterFox work well enough for me. I don't really want AIR installed just for a twitter app.

Tarla Cummings · 10 months ago

I love how organized tweetdeck is. I'm a big fan of sorting lists. What I like about Twhirls is that I can see the incoming tweets on the bottom of my screen so that I can scan through them easier while doing other work.

WindowsObserver · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck for me - almost the same layout except my last coumn is a search for Windows 7 to keep up with the conversation about the public beta.

www.waldronentertainment.com · 10 months ago

Very cool, I would have to say Tweetdeck for me! Twitter has helped my business, and I gained an even greater following.


Britney..Great blog post!

www.waldronentertainment.com

Bryan Lee · 10 months ago

I have been using Twhirl before Loic's team took it over and fell in love. I use it for keeping track of my 2 twitter accounts, friendfeed, and seesmic. I love the new ping.fm integration! With all this chatter in here about the features of Tweetdeck, I'm gonna have to give it a shot and see how it compares.

Outsanity · 10 months ago

TweetDeck is good if you have Twitter and 12Seconds.tv.
Twhirl is more for people with all the sites that Twhirl supports.

It's more of a personal preference if you ask me.

I have both but I use TweetDeck the most.

Martin Lindeskog · 10 months ago

Thanks for the review. I will test Twhirl and TweetDeck. I am following circa 700 people now, so I have to get some assistance soon.

Don't you think that more and more people will use FriendFeed and use this tool in order to keep up with things, following threads, commenting / "like"-voting on stuff? And now with the new search feature, it should be pretty easy to keep tabs on things, don't you think? I haven't tested it yet, but I have glanced through your post on it.

Sarath · 10 months ago

Surely TweetDeck. It's impressing and highly usable....

doughaslam · 10 months ago

For me? Twhirl hands down. the real estate TweetDeck takes up is a dealbreaker for me, despite my Twitter addiction.

Also, I use Twhirl to follow Friendfeed also (how I found this post, by the way). That. for me, is huge, and what got me using FF regularly.

Now, if Twhirl 0.9 can stop crashing on me...

Denise Aday · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck, hands down. Use it mostly as you describe, but have the first column as "Favorites" for folks I follow more closely and converse with more often. Also a column for "Clients" to keep abreast of their interests. The other columns for replies, DMs, and key term monitoring.

Brad Grier · 10 months ago

Tweetdeck. Simple. Very stream-of-content. Filter-able.

Big drawback, resource hog :( But I still run it.

James Burgos · 10 months ago

A suggestion: If you are going to do a "VS" post, you might consider not handicapping the product that you favor more than the one you are comparing it to. I'm just saying.

Marie Casas · 10 months ago

I was on twhirl for a while, useful coz I have multiple Twitter accounts. Then I thought I'd try Tweetdeck... but now I'm back to twhirl -- major props for ping.fm integration

Yu-kai Chou · 10 months ago

Hey Robert!
If you use Tweetdeck, you could really combine a few search keywords into 1 column. Maybe you want to separate them because it means different things to you, but I think if you did a keyword search "Scoble OR Scobleizer", it could help you see the other columns easier on one screen :)

Take care!

David · 10 months ago

I am new to both Tweet Deck and Twhirl. I am going to go with Twirl. I will let you know how it goes. I read a blog about it taking up cpu space on a mac etc. But I will see what it does. Anything that connects to hundreds of people on the web in real time will most likely seem to drag a little depending on your setup. Worth a try. Peace

Wendy Merritt · 9 months ago

I have used Twhirl for a long time. I think it does several things very well. I just started using Tweetdeck. I think it also does several things well. The one big thing that is in Twhirl that is not on Tweetdeck is the ping.fm integration so as soon as someone creates an app for that...I am in wholeheartedly. I currently use both simultaneously as I have several Twitter accounts, a friendfeed and a Seesmic account. It is wonderful having all these in the same convenient place.

Kimberly · 5 months ago

Tweetdeck drives me nuts. It makes an obnoxious sound all the time, which I can't figure out how to turn off. It is huge on my screen, so I can't just glance at it while doing other things. But, the worst part is it consistently tells me I need to download an update, but when I try to do so, nothing happens. I am on a Mac.

palla sridhar · 5 months ago

Hmm. I am very surprised that I also faced the same situation when choosing these clients. So is it Twhirl or TweetDeck? Hmm. I am using Twhirl , as it is looks more simpler than TweetDeck. But if you wanna have the look , its TweetDeck. But the bad side is, both require Adobe AIR. I read sometime back, that it makes the PC slow. But now, I feel that the problem is solved. Another feature missing in Twhirl is, it does not have any option to auto start !! Anyhow cool article!! My Technology Blog has more on this twitter client review.

Falise · 3 months ago

Hi Robert,

I wondered if you ever run across Twitterdeck not being able to load. Try as I might I cannot get Tweetdeck to load. Now I preface that by saying I have an eight year old desktop but I have never had an app just simply do nothing except click like a motor boat when I tried to access it.

Any thoughts are appreciated from one so knowledgeable.

Nick Ashley · 2 months ago

I used to use tweetdeck, but couldn't find any twitter client that did what I really needed (easy read tracking). I hated switching computers and losing track of where I was. That is why I created CrowdLens.