Time for a System Check

This column was originally published on RealMoney on March 1 at 2:49 p.m. EST. It's being republished as a bonus for TheStreet.com readers. For more information about subscribing to RealMoney, please click here.

As the markets take a breather around the unchanged line, it's a good time to do a system check.

There's been a lot of talk about the technical glitch at the New York Stock Exchange, which I still think was basically a delayed quote and meant little in real terms; trading was much more orderly than if it were all being done by live humans. However, I haven't heard any complaints that any brokerage firms had overloads, glitches or failures.

Before I tout this as a testament to the capability and efficiency of the electronic platforms now widely in place, especially given that extra bandwidth needed now that many options are trading in penny increments, I should ask: Has anyone had any problems out there? ...