I have been with IB 2+ years. I have never called support on the phone, so I can't comment there. However, I -have- emailed 'help@ib' a half dozen times in 2 years, and without exception, I received an inaccurate and/or totally useless answer, written in a manner showing a completely uncaring attitude. None of my questions were PC-related, as I have about 25 yrs experience there. For what it's worth, I'd stay far away from XP. Like another poster said, get Win2K. It's extremely solid...for a windoze OS, I mean... Do NOT install the usual five thousand idiot programs that come with new PC's...do NOT install a bunch of multimedia crap, etc. etc. etc.. Basically, do NOT install ANYTHING that you do not NEED. capiche? THAT is the #1 secret to having a STABLE windoze installation. Seriously. I run a laptop, 12 hrs/day, and only put it to sleep at night, not even shut down windows...I have not had to reboot win2k for months. Have not had to reinstall win2k since I got this laptop 3 yrs ago. (hp6000 p3-650, 256) The worst thing about tws/java and QT is the huge amount of memory it eats. The issue isn't cost, but the fact that it makes the laptop run much hotter, and runs/wears-out the fan. I should also mention that I do NOT run the latest TWS or Java. I believe I'm on 831.4 and 1.4.2. There have indeed been MANY people who HAVE had endless trouble with the recent versions of TWS. To claim otherwise is disingenuous. I have never used the website-TWS, so I can't comment on that. Finally, I'll echo what a few others have said....despite IB-support's nasty attitude towards clients (the email people anyway....the guys who post here are great), they're probably still the best low-cost retail broker. good luck hoodoo....
Hoodooman...Sorry IB didn't work outbut at the risk of sounding like a shill... you may want to try redsky if you dont do basket orders.... Never tried them myself because of the lack of basket orders but they seem ok since they dont have platform fees... anyway good luck.... Nick
I have zero problems with TWS. I run it on a modern machine with nothing else running on it except for trading software. I never, ever, do email or extraneous downloads of any kind on that machine and it is behind a Cisco hardware firewall. Anything less is just asking for headaches, and Windows98; LOL.
Haven't read this whole thread but FWIW, if you can't even launch the TWS app, it likely has something to do with your java runtime environment.
Hoodooman...Sorry IB didn't work outbut at the risk of sounding like a shill... you may want to try redsky if you dont do basket orders.... Never tried them myself because of the lack of basket orders but they seem ok since they dont have platform fees... anyway good luck.... EDIT: Actually didn't read through the whole thread but see that you are running an old pc with 98....I think you may encounter problem anywhere you go with 98 so you would be better off fixing the problem instead of looking for a different broker. IB has been solid for me...the only reason I wanted to try redsky is because they claim great short availability.... anyway ...good luck ... Nick
======= Hoodoman; Used windows 98 for a long long time & surely got my moneys worth and that was a refurb unit to start with. However 98 is not much compared to WindowsXP home!!!!!!! Are you comparing loss of earnnigs by goofing around with a out of date buggy 98 by not spending $ 400or 600 for refurb or new unit????? Dont take this as a personal jab as Profitlogic says, but sounds like youir ego is on the wrong side of this and while IB customer service could use improving , are you a professional if by not buying a new/refurb computer , you save $ 400 & miss 10 days earnings?????
If they said it was for professionals ... they must have become very frustrated before they said that. BOTH browser and standalone versions of TWS are very easy to get going. Reminds me of a joke ... and some of the customers I once dealt with. Subject: Customer Support Actual dialog of a former Wordperfect Customer Support employee: "Ridge Hall computer assistant; may I help you?" "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect." "What sort of trouble?" "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away.", "Went away?" "They disappeared." "Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?" "Nothing." "Nothing?" "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type." "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out?" "How do I tell?" "Can you see the C:\ prompt on the screen?" "What's a sea-prompt?" "Never mind. Can you move the cursor around on the screen?" "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type." "Does your monitor have a power indicator?" "What's a monitor?" "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on?" "I don't know." "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that?" "Yes, I think so." "Great! Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall." "Yes, it is." "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one?" "No." "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable." "Okay, here it is." "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer." "I can't reach." "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is?" "No." "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over?" "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle-it's because it's dark." "Dark?" "Yes-the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window." "Well, turn on the office light then." "I can't." "No? Why not?" "Because there's a power outage." "A power ... A power outage? Aha! Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in? "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet." "Good! Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from." "Really? Is it that bad?" "Yes, I'm afraid it is." "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them?" "Tell them you're too stupid to own a computer." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
your questions were probably very basic. customer service for online trading is an area that is just very difficult to do well.