For pretty much as long as I’ve been using Twitter, which was in March 2008, I’ve been looking for the perfect Twitter app for my Mac desktop. I don’t quite understand why it’s been such a long search, but I suppose you could classify me as picky. For a long while I haven’t even been using an app in the conventional sense, but web app converted to a desktop app using Hahlo.com and Fluid. While not ideal this solution achieves what I look for first and foremost in a Twitter application, zero desktop footprint.  When using a PC I can achieve this ideal setup by using Digsby, which has been promising a Mac version for about 2 years now and still hasn’t materialized.  I’m not holding my breath on that one.

Fluid and Hahlo.com as an app

I know loads of people who swear by using TweetDeck, but I consider myself the opposite of a TD user. I don’t want a behemoth app, with unlimited columns and bells and whistles. Since I don’t see a new 24″ LCD in my budget to pair with my 24″ iMac, I tend to covet the screen real estate I do have. I want lean and mean, yet still with the bulk of the functionality you would expect out of a Twitter app.  I’ve tried NatsuLion, Syrinx, Tweetie, Twitterific and TweekDeck and none of them meets my criteria of the perfect Twitter app.

My Perfect Twitter App wishlist

• Zero desktop footprint.  Apps like Tweetie and Twitterific have menu bar icons, but don’t function like dropdown menus.  I want the app to disappear as soon as I click outside of the dropdown
• Growl notifications
• Ability to follow and unfollow people right from the app
• Ability to easily retweet other people’s tweets
• Be able to view tweets breakdowns by people you follow, tweets directed at you and direct messages.  I find my iPhone apps do this well, but none of the desktop apps I’ve tried do this as well