Trading Software for Mac – How To Run TradeStation on an Apple Mac

 

 

Summary of what you'll learn in the feature article below:

• Not only is it possible to run TradeStation on a Mac but it’s fast, stable and easy.
   
• The secret is to use Parallels Desktop 5 software to run the Windows operating system simultaneously with the Mac operating system.
   
• Booting up times and real-time chart refresh rates are fast and certainly no worse than on a Windows operating system machine.
   
• You will need to re-learn and re-assign HotKey settings in TradeStation to make allowances for the different Mac keyboard layout.
   
• So far I’d rate my experience of running TradeStation on a Mac 9.5 out of 10.

 

Running TradeStation on a Mac – Does it work?

If you’ve ever wanted to get off the Microsoft treadmill but were a TradeStation die hard (like me) then the video above and this feature article might help you take the leap.

I finally ditched my Dell computers and opted for the Apple MacBook Pro 17. This is a 17″ screen laptop with 4 GB RAM standard that I upped to 8GB. I spend half the year travelling so a laptop was the only logical choice. I’m also not a fan of multiple monitors but a decent size and quality screen is a must.

Note: The advice below should work equally well for desktop or laptop Macs.

Running TradeStation on a Mac relies on emulation software – Parallels Desktop 5. This very clever software allows you to run the Windows operating system simultaneously with the Mac operating system. And it’s rock solid and fast.

Two caveats though. First, to run emulation software like this on a Mac, you’ll need one that has an Intel CPU (i.e. a recent Mac). Second, Parallels runs OK with 2 monitors but anything more than that and performance degrades with noticeable lag.

Although I opted to run the latest version of Parallels on my Mac it’s not your only choice. VMware Fusion is a competitor but in my research the reviews were not as favourable.

Macs also come with a built-in utility called Boot Camp. This allows you to partition the hard drive and install Windows along side the Mac operating system. The only drawback is that you can’t run the two operating systems simultaneously, unlike Parallels.

Running TradeStation on a Mac – What About Performance?

So that’s how you can run TradeStation on a Mac. What about the performance?

Booting up and chart opening times are very acceptable:

1. 40 seconds to start the Mac
2. 3 seconds to start Parallels
3. 60 seconds to start Windows 7
4. 10 seconds to start and log into TradeStation, and
5. 30 seconds to open one of my complex tick bar charts in TradeStation or
   1.5 seconds to open any other minute, hourly or daily chart.

Not bad. In addition it handles opening multiple, complex charts all-at-once and no crashes in the 3 weeks I’ve been running TradeStation on the Mac.

I have a feeling that chart opening times, particularly tick bar charts, are more dependent on the speed of your Internet connection than the speed of your machine. These tests were run in Sydney, Australia, on a good broadband connection. But there’s still the slow hop across the Pacific that adds delay for me.

Running TradeStation on a Mac – The Pros

So here are the Pros I see in running TradeStation on a Mac:

• It works. No crashes so far and fast.
• Able to open multiple tick bar charts simultaneously.
• Real-time chart updating is fast too.
• No fan noise and cool – to be honest I don’t even know if there is a fan!

And then there are the usual Pros of running a Mac. Most of us from the PC-world are familiar with these – we’ve seen the ads, right! But the things that have struck me are:

• It just works – networking, installing/uninstalling applications, etc.
• Beautifully engineered, no joins, no nooks and crannies to get dirty.
• Very quick start up at about 40 seconds.
• Seamless integration with iPhone, iPod, iPad, iTunes, etc.

Yes, no doubt Windows 7 has brought Microsoft a long way. But Apple’s holistic approach and superior engineering has resulted in a machine that almost runs Windows-native software better than on a Windows machine.

Running TradeStation on a Mac – The Cons

OK. Enough of the Apple-gushy-enthusiasm. There have to be some Cons, right?

Well, yes. But rather than seeing these as Cons of running a Mac, I view them as adjustments I need to make. So here’s my list:

• New keyboard layout means re-learning or re-assigning HotKeys. In TradeStation this allowed me to totally re-think my HotKey settings, so in time I should be a little faster. But then there are all the Mac-specific commands too.
   
• “Finder” for managing documents and files is not as easy as Windows – at least at first glance. Yes, there are some nice graphic features like “Cover Flow” but I’m into speed and HotKeys. “Spotlight” (Command+Space on the Mac) appears to be a much faster way of accessing documents, files, applications, web, etc.
   
• Apple-native versions of applications need to be found and functionality re-learned. And this takes time. Don’t underestimate the time you’ve invested in becoming proficient running programs like Word, Excel, etc. The Mac versions are different – in some cases, very different.

So it’s back to the classroom for a little homework. Scott D. recommended this book for PC switchers: Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual by David Pogue.

Running TradeStation on a Mac – Step-by-Step Installation Instructions

Before you start moving your TradeStation onto a Mac you’ll need a full version of MicroSoft Windows 7 Home Premium ($152-$199) or Windows XP. An upgrade version is not good enough as Microsoft sees this as a brand new installation. You’ll also need a copy of Parallels Desktop 5 ($80) as discussed above.

Then here are the steps for moving TradeStation from an old PC to a new Mac:

1. Export your own ELD files from TradeStation (File > Import/Export EasyLanguage > Export EasyLanguage > Etc.)
2. Backup your TradeStation workspaces and settings (File > Backup/Restore TradeStation > Backup TradeStation > Etc.)
3. Copy these EasyLanguage and backup files, plus any purchased DLLs that live in the TradeStation Program folder, to your Mac
4. Install Parallels Desktop 5 on the Mac
5. Start Parallels and install Windows 7 or XP
6. Within Parallels and the Windows OS start Internet Explorer
7. Log into your account at TradeStation.com and download the latest version of TradeStation (Client Login > Login > Download TradeStation Platform > Etc.)
8. Start TradeStation and import your own ELD files into TradeStation (File > Import/Export EasyLanguage > Import EasyLanguage > Etc.)
9. Restore your TradeStation workspaces and settings (File > Backup/Restore TradeStation > Restore TradeStation Archive > Etc.)
10. Move any purchased DLLs back into the TradeStation Program folder on your Mac
11. Check your Analysis Groups (Format > Manage Analysis Groups > Etc.)
12. Re-assign your HotKeys, see below (View > HotKeys > Etc.)

Lastly, I’d suggest installing an anti-virus/anti-spyware program in your Windows OS. My personal favorite is AVG because it’s light-weight, fast and less than $20.

Running TradeStation on a Mac – My HotKey Settings

The Mac keyboard layout forced me to re-think my HotKeys. Here’s what I’m using:

• File > Close Workspace = W
• File > New Window = Ctrl+N
• File > New Workspace = N
• File > Open Workspace = O
• File > Save Workspace = S
• Format > Format Symbol = F
• Pointers > Window Tracking = \
• Pointers > Workspace Tracking = ]
• Tools > Scroll One Page Left = Ctrl+Down
• Tools > Scroll One Page Right = Ctrl+Up
• Tools > Scroll to the Beginning = Ctrl+Left
• Tools > Scroll to the End = Ctrl+Right

There you go. Just some initial thoughts on running TradeStation on a Mac. So far I’d rate it 9.5 out of 10. The only downside is the time it takes to adjust.

Thank you to all the Emini-Watch.com subscribers who contributed Mac suggestions.

Stay tuned for more updates on trading software for the Mac.