Lap Top PC for Trading ?

[neil]

Hi,

Is it possible to buy a lap top that is just as powerful as a desk top Pc for trading shares/futures ?

17 inch plus lap top screen machines available yet ?

I ask since I am thinking of using it to trade whilst abroad,
and/or replacing my desk top with a powerful lap top.

Comments welcome.

:?:

 

[ChartMan]

15" LCD is the norm = 17" regular monitor. You don't need anything special... a 2 gig celeron blah blah for well under a grand...

 

[rossored]

I use a recently-purchased Fujitsu laptop ( 2.4Ghz, 256Mb, 20GB drive, WinXp home etc etc) for trading on a daily basis, hooked up to an additional 17in monitor.

Works fine, no problems at all. Far more reliable, in fact, than my previous desktop but thats probably down to the O/S more than anything.

Only time it gets close to struggling is when I've got too many windows open, but it'll deal with 7 or 8 no problems.

 

[Oldun]

And you get the benefit of having battery power if there is a power cut. No need to have a UPS.

 

[Trader333]

I do all my trading via a laptop with a 14.1" screen and an additional 17" monitor plugged in and it is fine.

Oldun,

What about the power to the modem ?

I have a UPS just for my modem and hands free phone because if the power goes off I still want to be able to close any trades I have. This means that I still need power to my modem and if that doesnt work I still need power to my phone to get to the trading desk as soon as I can.

Cheers


Paul

 

[dsmodi]

T333

does that mean u use either the 17" monitor or the laptop screen at any one time?

or do u "spilt" your screen between the 2 - i only ask in case that is possible..

cheers

 

[ChartMan]

Laptops have their modems either internally fitted or via a PCMCIA card,or at least the ones that were made this centuary have. :cheesy:

 

[Trader333]

I have a dual screen setup which my Sony Vaio allows via the settings menu as shown below. I didnt even know that this was possible until I checked the settings menu whilst looking for something else. This means that I effectively have one screen covering two monitors and is a standard set up for many daytraders.

Cheers


Paul

 

[Oldun]

Paul,

I use ISDN dialup (no broadband here) and the built in laptop modem as a backup.

Thanks to your advice re phone contact with IB I remain happy with the security of the set up.

Regards.

Oldun

 

[dsmodi]

2 screens

very interesting - i have a dell laptop with w98 and something similar on it ... wonder if I can do something - would anyone else know?

i imagine i can - should i get another screen and try....

i'm glad i asked t333 to clarify with what i thought might be a silly question ...

 

[Oldun]

dsmodi,

You can use your laptop just like a desktop with 2 cards. Just plug in a monitor and try it.

Oldun

 

[dsmodi]

cool! thanks!

wierd thing is i used to have an old 17" monitor (which blew up! - all that mega - heavy trading u know, of course), and then an older 15" monitor plugged in - but i just never knew about this .... u live n' learn ....

cheers mate

(double glad i asked what i thought was a silly question - just goes to prove dunnit.........

 

[Trader333]

Dsmodi,

Plug in another monitor and then just click the little arrow at the end of where it says "display" and you get a second option, select it and then click on the option to extend your windows display and there you go.


Paul

 

[ChartMan]

Except ATI drivers have dual monitor support built into their software. If you have a dual monitor harware support feature, then you can get 2 displays up. Viao is one of the few laptops that has dual monitor support.I doubt your dell has....

 

[options]

Dsmodi;
Just goes to show that there is never a silly question.

 

[ianp]

> dsmodi,

I run 2 screens on a 650mhz dell laptop,, but I think you need
XP , I couldn't find a Dell video driver to support dual monitors
so I used a Compaq one and it worked fine..

I also bought a 2nd hand dell docking station stuck in a matrox quad card and can run up to 6 monitors at once..

ian

 

[DaxTrader]

Recently bought a Dell Inspiron laptop from Dell "Outlet" ie £200 off because it is a returned one or something, very pleased with it. 512 ram, 2.4 pentium etc etc. Very fast, using desktop less and less.

It has a 15" screen, which feels just as big as a 17" analogue due to high resolution.
Have a 17" flatpanel with my desktop at the office with Matrox Dual head graphics card, but am not using that feature any more.

Found that once I have a position on, it is less distracting to just have the chart up rather than have the depth of market , P&L flashing etc .....

 

[wysinawyg]

I've got a now slightly ageing Dell Inspiron 8000 (although it was the top of the range graphics option when I bought it). It handles an extra monitor fine.

wysi

 

[dsmodi]

EUREKAAAAAAAAA!

IT WORKS! IT ABSOLUTELY WORK!!!!!

AND I CAN'T HELP SHOUTING ABOUT IT AND LET THE WORLD KNOW!!!!!!
I CONNECTED A MONITOR TO ME DELL LAPTOP, TWEAKED THE SETTINGS THINGGYS AND VOILA! NOW I HAVE 2 SCREENS!!!! (1)THE LAPTOP AND (2) THE MONITOR :cheesy:

HOW COOL IS THAT?
AND IT ALL COST ME ALL OF £0!!!! IT WAS FREEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU T333 , OLDUN ET AL...... IF YA WERE STANDING NEXT TO ME, YOU'D HAVE KISSES ALL OVER YA!!!!!!!! :-0 :cheesy: :cheesy: :cheesy:

CHEERS!!!!!!

 

[ChartMan]

How lucky is that!!!!!