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So I've been using Twitter lately not only as a public instant messaging tool but because it also updates my Facebook feeds: do I still need Twitter?  I could simply use Facebook Notes and not be limited to hyper-micro content.  And Facebook can be posted to using my windows mobile phone (via browser and/or text message) just as with Twitter.  One thing keeping me from going Facebook exclusively, though, is the inability to post notes publicly. 

Notes is Facebook's Twitter-like application.  Not that I have a significant number of Twitter followers, I don't, but that's not the point.  I publish on Twitter for myself as an online journal, for friends (which is why I wired it to Facebook) and in many cases to communicate ideas, places and experiences for public consumption.  If someone were to search the internet and find my micro-content interesting or helpful - good.  If I meet interesting people at the same time - cool. 

The question's further complicated by the fact that you're limited to 140 characters with Twitter.  I couldn't, for instance, publish this post using Twitter – I could, however, using Facebook Notes.  I know, I know - that's the point of micro-ya-da-ya-da versus blogging (I totally get it!) and I've embraced it like many other Twitter users.  Consider, though, that this post started as a Facebook note communicating a quick idea (only the first paragraph) as an experiment in FB Notes versus Twitter.  I reconsidered because it would only be seen by friends and only then it grew into this paragraph and beyond.  Hmm - walled garden you say?  Sure - but not all bad at the same time.  In fact, I like that I can configure content privacy in Facebook. At the same time I'd like the ability to make some of it public too.  In my mind this should be one of Facebook's highest priorities. 

What about the others? 

So, why do I like Facebook over other such sites?  It, at least for me and my friends, hasn't been a look-at-how-many-people-I'm-connected-with or a creepy-feeling singles portal like MySpace.  As for LinkedIn: I seem to have more LinkedIn friends than Facebook, at least to now.  I do use it though - even recently.  It's just not social networking (its professional networking) so perhaps it's not fare to compare.  Live Spaces - well it is just way late and, though, the Live team seem to be rushing to compete (and with good ideas) they need to deliver. Cohesion. Perhaps, an acquisition .  I'm still holding out hope here. 

I've held my comments on Plaxo as I consider it an area of special consideration.  I've got a lot of colleagues and friends that use it but many of us are allowing our data to get stale after a number of years of good service.  I'll share a long-time pet peeve with you: I absolutely abhor that Microsoft still hasn't nailed synergy, as they have with most other offerings, between the premier Outlook client and Live Messenger contacts, in particular.  Plaxo went half way there in the past: it offered a way to have each of us update our own contact information as we move from gig to gig - when our friends synchronize Outlook and Plaxo they get the updates automagically.  This is a wonderful tool for those of us transient types (consultants and IT professionals).  Enter Live Contacts, a step in the right direction - but where's the Outlook integration?  Argh... 

This being said I really see Live Contacts (the API included) and CardSpace as real opportunities.  In particular, among disparate tools like Facebook, Live and others like Community Server.  Based on some of Dare Obasnajo's recent comments and provided they stay the course we may see some good stuff here out of the Live group.  And I too hope that Facebook opens up and considers an open id like initiative (CardSpace(?) - even better!): though, I for one won't be holding my breath. 

Some closing thoughts

I'm gonna stick with Twitter and I certainly won't be giving up Facebook anytime soon.  I'm waiting for Facebook on the other hand to deliver on a couple of critical areas: 1) the APIs need to be expanded upon.  They're extremely limited at this point but a good foundation has been laid.  And 2) keep up the walls but provide users with doors that they can keep open.

Now if I can get more of my friends, family members and colleagues who've grown callused from those other experiences to try Facebook the semi-occasional email, phone calls and absolutely rare get togethers won't be all we have.