Twitter and Twits everywhere! The blogs that I frequent have Twitter on their sidebar now as compared to months back, where micro-blogging was less promoted on their blogs. I rode the Twitter tide only this November after having convinced myself to give it a try because I already have Plurk, which is also a free social networking and micro-blogging service.
I have Plurk so why sign up for Twitter? It’s like registering for another blog (when I already have one) and publishing the same post twice; one on each blog. This doesn’t make sense, right? But how wrong was I to think that both micro-blogging services are similar. After Twitting for almost a month, I noticed the huge differences between Plurk and Twitter, of which I’m going to mention.
The number 1 difference is the company.
It depends on who I want to stay connected with; my real life buddies or the anime blogsphere. The majority of the animeblogsphere use Twitter. Log in to Twitter to receive first hand updates, to receive replies, and news from the various bloggers themselves. On the other hand, if you’re looking for an anime blogger to follow in Plurk, you can add me, and me alone, and only me. I will be your only Plurk friend in the anime blogsphere.
Though I have only a few friends in Plurk, they’re my close buddies and they don’t use Twitter. We post silly things in Plurk but I enjoy what I’m doing. So it all depends on what you’re looking for. As long as you enjoy the company that you’re in, whichever service would do.
Twitter lags.
I’d be lucky to be able to load Twitter normally. I often receive “unable to connect to server” messages and most of the time, I need to refresh the page again so that the page formatting would look normal. Panther mentioned a solution before; the TwitterFox plug-in but I only Twit once or twice a day. If I’m to install anything, I’d have installed the Plurk Firefox Sidebar instead.
Plurk has emoticons and a time line interface.
I love emoticons. I frequently use emoticons on msn and have a folder for emoticons in my laptop. Twitter is plain simple text. To make a smiley face, do this (:
Plurk runs on a time line system where updates fit into a horizontal-like graph. If you have a magnitude of friends that Plurk a lot, expect your time line to be messy. Sometimes I find it hard to determine the time an update was posted due to the multiple time line. It’s neater in Twitter as updates are arranged one after the other. All I need to do is to go back a few pages and start reading.
Plurk has initiatives.
To encourage activity, Plurk has a “Karma system” where the more points one has, the better. Plurking constantly, replying, updating the profile and recruiting more friends are some of the ways to increase points. With more points, cooler looking emoticons are unlocked, along with additional features like icons change. Twitter, on the other hand, does not have such initiatives.
Plurk has a list of useless verbs.
Twitter is freestyle; where I can type anything under the sky and my updates will appear after my nick. Plurk has a list of verbs that followed my nick and I can choose to continue the sentence. It’s a challenge to use all the verbs regularly, especially the verb “hate”. I can’t hate something everyday can I? However, there’s also freestyle in Plurk (where I can choose not to use any of the verbs) but if I’m to go freestyle, it’s no different from Twitter. My most used verbs on Plurk are “says” and “is”.
Overall I prefer Plurk to Twitter because of the interface, the loading speed, and the emoticons. The emoticons are additions but not a necessity as I can Plurk without them but still, I find such additions welcoming. Is Twitter attractive because of its simplicity or could its popularity in the anime blogsphere due to the company that one can find there? Lastly, does anyone want to come over to become my Plurk buddy? (:
Actually I never give a shit, I just go on what everyone is on and so long as I can type and use it comfortably I am fine with it lol.
Panther´s last blog post..A Fillerific Preview
The last time I used Plurk was when Leo Laporte mentioned it; I stopped using it after a couple of days. There was a lot of noise, constant notifications when Plurks I replied to received comments from people I didn’t even know, there was no 3rd party support, etc. etc.
Now, since the major Twitter outages (FAIL WHALE FTL) several months ago, Twitter has improved greatly in uptime and loadtimes. I don’t get all the errors you mention, and most others don’t either. Granted, Twitter is slow at fixing its problems (Track and IM aren’t coming back, and SMS is sometimes problematic).
The problem with Plurk is that the timeline feels gimmicky. Your Twitter feed is listed in chronological order, so the timeline doesn’t feel all that special.
The whole verb thing is limiting as well. The emoticons are, as you said, not a necessity. Twitter was created with a focus on SMS, so text was pretty much the focus. I think emoticons will ever need to come to Twitter.
As for initiatives, I use Twitter as a networking and messaging tool. I don’t really need a reason to come back other than that. I use it to talk, advertise my blogs, and simply write about my day.
Plus, there are simply more users and better integration and more third party apps. I want to Twitter from my iPod touch, BlackBerry, or whatever other device. TXTing is cool, but I want to see everyone’s updates (and not uses up my TXTs). There are very few, if any, Plurk applications.
And I DO have Plurk, so you could always add me =P CalAggie has one too, but I don’t know if he uses it.
Superior technical platform is a small factor in good microblogging/IM platform uptake. Look at AIM…
Plus, a lot of the problem with service interruption with Twitter is due to traffic, which it has LOADS more than Plurk. Who knows, maybe Plurk will suffer worse when it gets more users. It is untested.
The focus on SMS is what makes twitter a little weak technically, but I actually rely on that aspect of twitter. W/e, both are fine by me and thanks for letting everyone know about an alternative.
omo´s last blog post..The Sky Crawlers Is More WW2 Fighter Fanservice than Crazy-Loli Sex, But It’s Close
Actually I would try out Plurk as well, but I do use Twitter more, and even though Twitter may crash more often, more of the professionals in my career use Twitter… and I follow them, otherwise I’ll have a twitter widget on my blog.
Although Twitter was interesting when the election was going on… so… on a more personable level… twitter..
animemiz´s last blog post..Movie Review of Sky Crawlers
I don’t use either…
But I’m tempted to try out Twitter.
Actually Plurk didn’t do so good on my blog widget, but I did sign up for it.. and it’s animemiz. So you can friend me if you want…. just not sure if I’ll update as often.
animemiz´s last blog post..Movie Review of Sky Crawlers
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The only reason I use Twitter vs. any other micro-blogging tool is because a lot of tech bloggers I read have them. I saw them on their blogs a lot and decided to give it a try. I first found it limiting but now, I think the simplicity is nice. I don’t want my micro-blog to outshine my real blog in flashiness.
I noticed the Twitter Explosion aswell.
I think Twitter is so popular in the Blogosphere because so many AnimeBloggers already use it.Theres no Sense in signing up for a service when you cant stay in Contact with those dudes.
I dont use either. Now thats punk! :D
Plurk seems a tad nicer to me since you can use those verbs
Blowfish´s last blog post..Another Figure Dilemma!
I usually try to send out most of my messages through Ping.fm, which I have connected to Twitter, Plurk, and a few other services. Unfortunately, I don’t visit the Plurk site all too often even though I should. Oh, and I’m now following you on there.
CalAggie´s last blog post..Prelude to 12 Days of Xmas Round Two
The plurk Karma system initially motivated be to PLURK MOAR, but the moment I fell into a Plurking slump, I found my way to twitter-ing and never got back, it seems. I’ve been gaining more and more aniblogosphere buddies in twitter, though my real life friends are in Plurk. Guess I should make an effort to updating my Plurk, or so I hope >_<
usagijen´s last blog post..The Final Countdown Before the JLPT1 Doomsday
@animemiz: Sure, added as friend.
@53RG10: Twit twit twit twit. Welcome to Twitter.
@CalAggie: Yay, another aniblogosphere Plurker found. I just signed up for ping.fm and it’s a handy program. I did a status update there and it automatically posts in my Facebook, Plurk, Twitter and Friendster. Sadly they don’t have a one-stop system where I can check for replies. Now I’m still trying to differentiate between the “statuses” and “micro-blogging” options because they seem similar to me, somehow.
@Blowfish: Yup, I think the people matters too. A reason for having garnered that many users is probably due to it starting ages back before Plurk. Why not give Plurk or Twitter a try if you have the time? (:
Most of my friends aren’t tech savvy to use either one, and I really only use Twitter as a chatbox replacement, and to keep tabs on other anibloggers and engage in conversations with these people without the need to have their IM contact.
Shin´s last blog post..Updates, And Things Such As That
@panther: Stick with it as long as you’re comfortable. I’m still contemplating whether to download the Firefox plugin that you’ve recommended.
@Icystorm: Thanks for sharing! Now I know of a great downside to Plurk (where there’s a lack of 3rd party applications). Wow, sending txts with ipod and Blackberry, that’s very high-tech and trendy of you.
I’ve added you as friend on Plurk and is the noise problem fixed? I read that there was an incident where Plurk users were receiving messages from complete strangers but they have already fixed the glitch. Accept me as friend whenever you’re free. (:
@omo: You’re welcome omo! Ah the sms aspect of Twitter, I haven’t tried it yet and most probably will not because it involves some hand phone charges (sms fees).
@usagijen: Likewise my friends and I are Plurking instead of Twitting and we’re attracted to the emoticons and the cute interface of Plurk. Perhaps Plurk is more for casual use while Twitting means business.
@Shin: My friends are not tech savvy too but I psycho them into Facebook-ing and Plurk-ing with me.
i thought plurk would be nicer for interaction with friend, but i started getting annoyed with it because of the constant spamming of everyone for the sake of karma points. but like you, close friends (not bloggers) are in it so i keep mine. i enjoy twitter much more – i’m not sure though if this is because it has less spams or because people in my following/followers list are also bloggers making their updates really enjoyable.
biankita´s last blog post..Toshokan Sensou ~Situation ♥♥ Love Handicap~
@biankita
I feel that since I know my friends well enough, I can pretty much grasp their day to day happenings. Hence, it’s much more fun reading the updates of bloggers since some are in foreign countries and come into contact with things that I’d never have. I learn something new the everything I read the various updates. (: