What's that?  You're not on Twitter?  Get out.  From Will Smith to surgeons--freakin' surgeons!--millions of people worldwide are using this popular online service to offer up brief, 140-character descriptions of the key events in their fascinating lives.  And you too could join the bandwagon/party/mayhem, but you sure aren't going to do it from Twitter's Web page.  That just wouldn't be very Maximum PC of you when a host of other options exist for pulling an up-to-the-second ton information out of this living, breathing Web entity.

So join us as we explore five of the top Twitter clients.  If you like what you see, perhaps you'll even be so inspired as to write your very own "Tweet," or "Twit," or "message" about your software adventures!  Just promise you won't do it from the operating table, ok?

TweetDeck

What it does:  TweetDeck is the Alpha and the Omega of Twitter desktop clients.  Why, you ask?  Because this awesome application allows you to split Twitter feeds into a columnar format.  Want to stash your personal Twitter messages into one column?  Go ahead!  Want to set up a separate live feed of all the @ replies that are coming your way?  Easy.  You can even organize a continuously updating feed based around a particular search word or phrase.  This application is a must-have for crazy Twitter organizers... or those who just want the world's information at their fingers, instantly!

Download it here!

Twhirl

What it does: Twirl is the power user's Twitter application.  Not only can you use it to sockpuppe... er...  engage the community with multiple Twitter accounts at once, but Twirl also helps you cross-post your updates to a variety of other Web platforms, including MySpace, Facebook, and Linkedin.  The program will automatically pull up any Twitter message that contains your user name, and helps you shorten your URLs and post pictures using add-on sources like is.gd and TwitPic.  In short, Twhirl is a great tool for minimizing the time you need to make an awesome Twitter post.

Download it here!

TwitterFox

What it does: TwitterFox isn't so much a standalone application as it is a Firefox extension.  We still enjoy the simplicity of this Twitter notification program.  Whenever one of your friends posts a new message, a little window pops up in the corner of your browser a la VH1's Pop-Up Video or, um, a common instant message.  When you click on the program's icon, a miniature Twitter-listing pops up to tell you all of the recent messages you have to read, any @ replies you've received, and any direct messages that your fans have sent you.

Download it here!

Digsby

What it does: We would chastise ourselves if we didn't mention this ultra-functional IM application as one of the best Twitter-interactive programs we've seen.  Though we might be wrong in calling it an IM app, because it's hard to tell just what exactly is Digsby's key feature.  The program just does too much!  You can use it to receive pop-up, IM-style notifications of everything that's happening across a variety of your online communities: Facebook, AIM, your POP or IMAP e-mail, Twitter...  the list is nearly endless.  This is the perfect app for the person who's a member of too many online communities.

Download it here!

Blu

What it does: Blu might not win our hearts for its featureset, as this Twitter client comes with basic functionality: the ability to read your Twitter page, check out your replies and direct messages, and update your Twitter with whatever you're doing.  We're nevertheless including this program on our list because it looks good--and we mean good.  The floating client window is touched with a hint of transparency in addition to its overall look and feel, lending your desktop a touch of artistic flair.  Updating your Twitter forces a little typing box to pop up, featuring a lovely numeric display of the "characters remaining" as part of the background of the window.  We don't often trade features for gorgeous UI, but we'll make an exception for Blu.

Download it here!