Obviously, multiple windows isn't a feature the iOS versions need to contend with--or could even support--but on the Mac, Tweetbot lets you create columns, which are separate timelines attached to your main timeline window, or standalone windows containing separate timelines. The implementation of this approach is a bit clunky: For example, if I want a separate window with replies to @Macworld, I need to first navigate from my own account to @Macworld's, then click the mentions button, and then click the gear icon and choose the command to spawn a new window. But now I have two windows showing the same thing; I then need to switch the original window back to my own account. (Alternatively, I can navigate to the Macworld account and then right-click the mentions button and choose Open In New Window. This at least keeps the original window on the main Macworld timeline.)

Having to manually switch the original window back to where it was is a bit of a hassle, but the big issue for me here is that the newly created column or window lacks navigation elements--you can't switch to mentions or direct messages or anything else. To change the view in the secondary window or column, I need to close it and then recreate it with the desired view. This might make sense if you're viewing two timelines for the same account, but for viewing timelines from multiple accounts, I'd rather be able to view two side-by-side standard windows, each with its own navigation controls. Tweetbot can't quite do that yet.

There's also more work to be done when it comes to keyboard shortcuts. Tweetbot has many, but it lacks a few necessities. For example, I'd love a quicker way to switch between accounts, especially given the limitation I just outlined with multiple windows and columns. A global keyboard shortcut to launch the app, or to toggle its visibility, would be nice, too. (Some of my colleagues also wish the app could run without a Dock icon, but--though I find the freakish robot/duck mildly disturbing--I like it there.)

I'm thrilled that Tweetbot has made the leap to the Mac; despite a couple complaints, I think it's just a terrific app. All of my Twitter consumption now goes through Tweetbot clients, and that suits me just fine. Tweetbot is the Twitter app I've long wanted on my Mac, and it doesn't disappoint.