The Electoral College

I've never quite understood the whole Electoral College thing, and the given article only worsened it. I suppose I'll only reflect on what I have heard in the past. The Electoral College seems to have the ruling vote while the people are a sort of swaying factor. Although we don't officially select a president, we give the College an idea of who we would like to be voted in which then convinces the members one way or another. I really don't see how that is beneficial. We should just have the people vote or the Electoral College vote - not both.