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Ready, Set, Start Online Trading

With a few bucks to spare and hopes of making more, you decide to try online stock trading. So where do you begin? If you were about to start tennis or golf lessons, you would start at the pro shop to get the right equipment. That’s the same approach needed to begin online trading.

Ok, you have a computer what else? Just any computer and dial up internet connection won’t do for online trading. Toss out the dinosaur hardware that is more than three years old and buy a computer with top speed. The old 256 megabyte models make great paperweights. Anything less than 1 gigabyte is not even in the game. For frequent travelers or commuters, consider spending more for a laptop computer to get portability that is necessary to stay on top of day trading. Online trading demands quick access and a reliable computer. Think of your computer as your business part for online trading.

RAM is the all important amount of memory that is available for programs in use. You need to set any software programs not essential for trading so that they will not run automatically when the computer turns on. Serious online traders use more than one trading site plus research so they need both RAM and speed.

Whether using a desktop computer or laptop computer, buy a flat screen monitor with the highest resolution you can afford. Online trading for day traders requires staring at a computer screen for hours which is rough on the eyes. The larger monitor is more comfortable to view and only needs a hookup to work with your laptop.

Traders who want to have instant access for online trading need a broadband wireless access card for their laptop computers. Another option is to purchase a wireless card from a major provider like Verizon or T-Mobile for a monthly fee or in increments of minutes. These cards are only useful at specific locations so know before you go whether your wireless card will work when you need it.

Set up your computer with files that are easy to access. Think of electronic files the same as manila files in the desk drawer. The more specific the file name, the faster you can find the file. This is very important when searching for the trend report or chart that you need this minute to make a buy or sell decision.

Subscribe to three to five online stock market newsletters. Start with free online news sources until you decide which is more useful. Keep what is helpful and delete the rest. Give yourself limited time for scanning newsletter or you’ll waste valuable online trading time reading.

That’s the basics necessary for online trading. You have a better chance of winning the online trading game when you start with the right equipment for the challenge.