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I would pretty much agree with your analysis of my suggestion. However, I am
reminded of the historical examples of something that can't be done, being
done very much more easily than the experts say it can be done.
A few more down days and 100 bucks might move mountains. I am too far
removed from Florida and TRAD to really get involved and I don't really have
a reason, as a system trading platform is not what I need. I believe that
the truth is that all systems are doomed to failure in the end.
The beauty of TS is that you can fool yourself into believing that you will
find something somewhere that will be fool proof. It's all pretty academic
because a little more downside and you will see people heading for the door
in droves and then you will be able to buy the whole of TS for a song and a
dance.
Prosper
----- Original Message -----
From: "M. Simms" <prosys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Prosper" <brente@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: "Omega-List" <omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 4:46 PM
Subject: RE: Some general questions - "The real world"
> I would be surprised if you get even 2500 TS users to ante-up $100......
> that would buy you 2 contract C++ programmers for a year.
> It would then take at least 3 months for them to understand the basic
> internals.....
> then another 3 months of trial-and-error debug coding......with little
> results....
> then another 3 months where they go "aha !...I see (finally) the bugs...."
> then another 3 months of alpha/beta testing....
> and viola, you've got TS2000i fixed......at least.
> Hire them for another year and you'll have some new features.
>
> BIG CAVEAT:
> TRAD & The Cruz brothers have absolutely no interest in improving or even
> fixing TS2000i....
> that's totally apparent with all of the "fixes" and new features for
TS/Pro
> and none for TS2000i in over a year....
> and they have total and absolute control over the source code.
> Now what ?
>
> BTW: Who is going to put-up the office for the programmers and provide the
> workstations, the compilers, and the debuggers ?
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Prosper [mailto:brente@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 12:43 PM
> > To: Bob Fulks
> > Cc: omega-list@xxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: Some general questions
> >
> >
> > Yes, although the brokerage business has it's possibilities, I agree
that
> > enhancing the current model was the more logical idea. I even
> > suggested such
> > a thing to the suggestion box at Omega about the time that mytrack got
> > going.
> >
> > Many on this list along with the rest of us have probably got it
> > wrong when
> > criticizing the boys at TT. I've always heard the you get more bees with
> > honey than with vinegar. If a trust was set up that would pay out when
the
> > product got the most needed improvements. It would give the boys some
> > incentive to do something. I know that that isn't likely to happen but
if
> > 25000 TS owners put up $100 for such a fund that would be 2.5 million
for
> > incentive.
> >
> >
> > Prosper
> >
> > > You seem to think that the only option was "fixing legacy software"
> > > and continuing to try and sell it with slick ads on CNBC.
> > >
> > > Almost all software companies are trying to convert to "services" and
> > > "subscription based" models so there is nothing wrong with that
> > > objective. But I can think of many ways to do it without entering the
> > > brokerage business.
> > >
> > > Think of all the things that TradeStation users would pay a monthly
> > > fee for, such as:
> > >
> > > > Good data (real-time, historical, etc.)
> > > > Good support
> > > > Solid software with evolutionary enhancements
> > > > Good training on trading techniques
> > > > Good training on EasyLanguage programming
> > > > Trading systems that really work
> > > > Semiautomatic and automatic order placement with lots
> > > of brokerage services
> > > > Good accounting reports for tax purposes
> > > > ....
> > >
> > > Now think of all the disadvantages of the new business model:
> > >
> > > > Huge liability for losses if the data is bad or the
> > > software has bugs
> > > > Alienating all brokerage services by competing with them
> > > > Alienating all data providers by not supporting their data
> > > > Overcoming customer's resistance to changing brokers
> > > > Alienating the existing customer base by discontinuing
> > > the product they use to make a living
> > > > Brokerage services are quickly becoming a commodity with
> > > very low commissions. Those you make money do it with very
> > > sophisticated financial management rather than commissions.
> > > > ...
> > >
> > > Then look at the technical and managerial challenges of making
> > > it really work:
> > >
> > > > With data-on-demand how do bad ticks get fixed?
> > > > How can there be enough server capacity to handle fast
> > > markets and "Greenspan moments" reliably?
> > > > Can Omega really change from the "one-time sale to the
> > > naive newby" mentality to providing the quality products
> > > and services required to keep customers paying the monthly
> > > fees?
> > > > ...
> > >
> > > Perhaps it will work. We all hope so. But it sure seems like
> > > a high-risk strategy to me...
> > >
> > > Bob Fulks
> > >
> >
>
>
>
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