Whats the point having a NASA like control center?

[LEAPup]

Quote from ksonsinc:

Any one trading with this desk top all in one
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs...desktops:ss&ref=http://www.sony.com/index.php
The Sony L series all in one
Thinking of changing it for my 14.1 laptop
I need to watch charts for a couple of stocks and i think it is really important to have a screen but 24 inch,s

I REALLY like this setup!

As for the debate, it all comes down to what one is used to, what they are watching, etc., One of the best Traders I know uses 8 22" monitors. For me, that would have me going in circles with information overload until he were to set me down in a chair beside him to learn what HE uses each monitor for.

This multi monitor debate will always rage on. I do like the above setup you posted ksonsic. Did you buy it yet?

 

[spd]

Quote from NoDoji:

No, don't do it, spd! Less is more! I'm really looking forward to transitioning to trading CL exclusively and can't wait to ONLY use a laptop (sitting in the spa or pool preferably).

Yesterday, I actually turned off my two stock chart monitors to keep myself from getting distracted from CL (nice trading btw).

LOL well I at least need another monitor for facebook, pandora, etc, haha

in all seriousness I'll probably just keep on keepin on with my laptop, its a badass sony vaio with a pretty big screen. i am in serious intimate love with it, best computer ive ever owned.

 

[mdl060374]

I think it depends what you trade.

If you trade a specific market (e-minis, etc), sure 1 monitor might work..

with equities probably not.
2 is probably the minimum. Personally I use 4.

1 for overall market
2 monitors for individual scanners and various stock charts.
and 1 for order entry and positions...

I think it comes down to whether or not you like to ALT-TAB, or switch screens alot...

I DO know, that if you give me another screen, I WILL find a way to fill it.... and another, and another...

If you have the cash, no reason not to.

 

[retaildaytrader]

Honestly, I used to look at 4-5 different things on 3-4 monitors all at once until I found out that I really did not need to monitor any of that.

One time I thought it was useful to know what oil or the SPY was doing...however, its useless and may even be harmful to look at things that dont mean a hill of beans to what you are actually trading. I guess those guys on the floor of Morgan Stanley may need them for what they are doing, but me, Joe Sixpack does not need them.

I have 4 monitors. One is stuffed in the closet, another is off to the side turned off (disconnected), the 3rd is my laptop which is shut and then the main monitor I use is a 27 inch HP high definition. Why 27 inch? It only cost about $350 if I remember correctly. its very easy to read things from afar using it, displays great pictures/video and doubles as a television to play internet tv. Sometimes I will have the order screen on the laptop monitor and the chart on the 27 inch which makes it a little easier/faster...

However, you dont need any of that equipment. All you need to know about is what you are trading. Focus on what you are trading and you will make money. You dont need to know about oil or the spy. Who cares...just focus on what you are trading.

 

[FutsTrader111]

Don't knock it if you cannot process information this way. Any trader for a major institution doesn't work with one monitor. There are reasons for it.

 

[retaildaytrader]

Quote from FutsTrader111:

Don't knock it if you cannot process information this way. Any trader for a major institution doesn't work with one monitor. There are reasons for it.

The only thing I envy about the institutional trader is their paycheck and other frills that come with that job. However, I think their job sucks otherwise. Work in a big room with lots of assholes...you report to an asshole... I honestly would not want that job except to get a few good bonus payments under my belt and then find a way to split and move into another line of work. I just never dreamed of working in a room full of assholes and reporting to another asshole. I dont want my life to move in that direction.

In any event, the institutional trader's situation does not apply to my situation or the majority of the "Elitetrader's" situation. A guy sitting at this residence trading with the IB or TDAmeritrade wont need quantities of monitors.

 

[talontrading]

Nor is he very likely to make any money...

Quote from retaildaytrader:

...A guy sitting at this residence trading with the IB or TDAmeritrade wont need quantities of monitors.

 

[Robert Weinstein]

Quote from NoDoji:

No, don't do it, spd! Less is more! I'm really looking forward to transitioning to trading CL exclusively and can't wait to ONLY use a laptop (sitting in the spa or pool preferably).

Yesterday, I actually turned off my two stock chart monitors to keep myself from getting distracted from CL (nice trading btw).

Good work NoDoji,

Stay focused and get rid of the crap. I have heard of some of these guys with like 10+ monitors as if they think they can watch more than one or two at a time anyway.

Robert

 

[Picaso]

Quote from Bolimomo:

Different people trade differently.

Most of us have the tendency to project how we trade on to how other people *should* trade.

You can make money using one laptop. Sure! You can make money trading on an I-phone! What's the point of having 3 monitors? And you can make money trading using computers running auto-trade strategies. What's the point of having *any* monitor at all? You can make money by handing the money over to some hedge fund managers. What's the point of DIY while you can play golf everyday?

Of course it's so easy to sweep it under: he just wants to impress his friends with his monitors when they come over to visit him in his mom's basement.

This question, in spirit, is similar to those:


I use 30-minute bars to trade. What's the point of trading the 1-minute chart? Those are nothing but noise.

Price Action is all I needed to trade. What's the point of having any indicator on your chart? They are all lagging.

All I trade is one stock day in day out. What's the point of scanning through thousands of stocks everyday, every hour looking for potential trades? What a waste of time.

Futures is all you need. What's the point of trading so many stocks?

Well said

 

[FutsTrader111]

Quote from retaildaytrader:

In any event, the institutional trader's situation does not apply to my situation or the majority of the "Elitetrader's" situation. A guy sitting at this residence trading with the IB or TDAmeritrade wont need quantities of monitors.

Thats one sweeping generalization. Since when do you speak for the majority of Elitetrader? As some are explaining to you, you got your ways of trading and others got theirs. Some here in this thread are telling you why they use multiple monitors. Maybe you should read between the lines and understand WHY.

Its pointless to try to change people in their ways. You want to trade with one monitor, then do it. But unless you got a strong argument to the reasons why, most will just categorize this thread as a RANT and others will read more into this and learn why multiple monitors are a benefit.