This is a good discussion. I've got some big praises for Fidelity in a lot of areas, however if they could just tackle this problem it would be much better for my trading style.
I do not want to do 10-30 executions a day, scalping 1/8 and 1/4's. I'd like to day trade, but in a more moderate style, and only about 20% of my stylistic trading approach.
But they can do alot better in 2 areas:
1) Fill speed.
2) Trading tools.
This new ATW is web based, and it a combination of Java and ASP. It is slow, will be slow, and will be a PC resource hog when it updates. My machines slows to a crawl when this happens, and other applications I am running suffer. If you're in the middle of a trade when this happens, you have to wait until the ATW update finishes. You're literally locked for 30 seconds, or more. The longer your watch list, the longer the time to update.
Most folks here are are used to dedicated client applications (like FOX) and for the most part, I'd agree that the industry has embraced this design as being better. Quote.com uses a very efficient Java applet for their RT and delayed quotes (Qcharts), and that is not a resource hog. Most other apps (like Bill's Cybertrader, RT trader from NAQ (www.naq.com), and Omega tradestation, etc.) ALL use dedicated windows clients and servers and don't use browser based delivery.
For Fidelity to attempt to "make it work" with web applications design is a bold move (I think Etrade is doing this now with the Power Etrade station), but I've got no feedback on this. ATW,however appears to fall short on 2 counts. 1) for feature set. 2) Speed. I've got grave concerns that it's design properties stop other processes on your PC, and I guarentee this will be an ongoing problem.
Tradescape.com is doing some web development for Level II, and I've used that and it's good.
I'd like to hear from other folks as to providers and products. I think this is a good discussion and with enough ideas on this, We'll probably find the right set of tools and execution product that will continue to give us an edge, vs take it away.
SJ |
