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Non-Tech : Anyone using Indigo Software -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dr. Stoxx who wrote (16)	2/25/1999 6:56:00 AM
From: Dr. Stoxx	Respond to of 42

Another question: I called Microstar last night to ask about their online service. I didn't get a whole lot from them except a sales pitch for the software. I am on a Mac, so not only would I need to plunk down the $3500, but also another $2000 or so for a new computer. Anyone using the online service and happy with the results? Is the same set of portfolios available online as on the software? TIA, TC.

To: Dr. Stoxx who wrote (16)	2/25/1999 8:50:00 PM
From: Caleb	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42

Regarding the technology question: I currently use Indigo on a notebook computer, 120 MHz Pentium, 1.2 GB hard drive, 28.8 modem. The system works sufficiently well, although I'm considering an upgrade to a faster machine to process the data for trading as quickly as possible. I don't think you need the fastest computer out there to run the software, and whatever modems they bundle these days with, say, a 400 MHz computer--perhaps a V.90--should work fine.(Connection speed is much less important than number-crunching power you'd get with a fast chip and big hard drive. The downloads of data from Reuters only take a couple of minutes anyway.) With respect to the signals issue, you can set up the system to generate instructions to buy/sell at today's close, tomorrow's open, and even tomorrow's close. Because I work during the day, I only use trading models that issue buy/sell at tomorrow's open signals. Not sure what you mean by "gaps." Generally, if the market pops in the morning, like it has for a while, and then falls off, you've sold your previous position and used the proceeds to enter a new one. Over the past several weeks I've received a better price for my sales in the morning than I have for buys as the market surges in the morning then drops. The strong sale and weak buy cancel each other out. Best regards, Caleb

To: Dr. Stoxx who wrote (16)	2/26/1999 12:40:00 PM
From: Jim DiFalco	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42

Thomas The minimum computer system is: IBM Compatible Pentium 60 or higher Windows 95/98 or NT 4.0 16 Megs Ram 200 mb Hard disk space 2x cd rom Parallel printer port color monitor Hayes compatible modem Any internet service provider will work. This is an end of day system. You download quotes at the end of day and print out your signals for the next day. You could actually send the printout to your broker for execution depending on who you use. There are several different types of models, relative strength, overextended, momentum etc. Most are long only except for the momentum models which are also more active trading and almost always in the market long or short. Some of the models have large drawdowns and still make huge profits. Your choice depending on your tolerance level. Indigo doesn't require much time, don't even have to watch the market unless you are trading a momentum model in your portfolio. The momentum models require you to watch the last hour of the market and execute trades at the close of the market. Momentum models are correlated to certain market indexes and require you to place orders depending on where that index is going to close and your current signals from indigo. The rest of the models are intermediate to long term holds so you will experience drawdowns if gaps occur. Often Indigo will hold you in postion and you will either return to a profitable position or exit later at a reduced loss, the program doesn't panic and get out at the low of the drawdown. You will experience losses as a normal part of your trading so expect it. The program simply makes more profits than losses. To tell you the truth my wife really likes the program and grows more comfortable with it all the time. Jim