options strategy

Lets begin this post with a discussion about hardware.  I will get to trading strategies and trade ideas in a little while.  You need some hardware before you can run some software (which I will also discuss) in order to analyze what the markets are doing.

Any system that will run the current Windows 7 has enough horsepower to run all the current trading platforms.  My recommendation is to get as much memory as you can afford or can fit into your computer.  And then to get the 64 bit version of Windows 7 –  this will give you a machine that will be a little ahead of the curve and last longer then a machine with a 32 bit operating system.  Next to consider is your choice of monitors.  Do you go with a single large monitor or two smaller ones?  Both will work fine – it will depend on your budget and space on your desk.  I prefer 2 larger monitors – I use 2 – 24 inch currently.  A single 30 inch would work very nice as well.    My monitors are a bit older and not in the new widescreen format.  Widescreen means that the width to height of the monitor is in the relationship of 16:9 which is great for watching movies on your computer.  But I do not like them for looking at charts or working on my computer.  The problem is they are very hard to find and I have been told that the major manufacturers no longer make them.  Just the widescreen models 🙁

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Now for software – I have tested Think or Swim, Tradestation, eSignal platforms and find them all to be great.   So the important thing to see is what you are comfortable using.  And also the costs involved.  Some platforms will be free (except for exchange costs) like Tradestation, and some you will need to add a data service on top of the platform.  A lot will depend on your brokerage and the platform they use and the costs involved.  I like Think or Swim and love Tradestation which is my platform of choice.  Look around and try what is out there and find a platform that works best for you.