If you have been using Twitter for awhile, you may have heard of the desktop application called TweetDeck.  TweetDeck is the most popular third party application for Twitter.  Once installed, it allows you to access the site from the comfort of your desktop.  You can tweet, read followers tweets and customize what you are reading from Twitter.

Other than TweetDeck, Twhirl is another popular way to tweet from your desktop. TweetDeck allows you to tweet once open right from the program and updates just as fast as texting in your update. All tweets are delivered in real time, so you are watching the Twitter service update as it is happening. You create different columns and if you are following a lot of people, you can create customized groups to filter out who you really want to see tweets from. TweetDeck also allows you to update your Facebook status, too.

Twhirl runs on both Windows and Max platforms and is similar to how TweetDeck works. It also works with Friendfeed and Seesmic accounts, displays notifications for new tweets from followers and allows you to post status updates to your Facebook and MySpace accounts simultaneously. You sync your Twhirl account to TwitPic as well to post pictures just like you would send them from your phone. You can also search Twitter from Twhirl, too to find followers talking about topics of interest.

There are countless other Twitter desktop applications out there and new ones being developed every day.  Check out the various applications and see which one works for you.  Only by trying out your options will you find the right set up for your Twitter account and your computer.  TweetDeck may be the most popular, but it is not the only one out there that works with Twitter.  Take the time to find the right application, and you will enjoy Twitter even more than you thought possible from the comfort of your computer.