Help Need advice: Sprint Hero is horrible; fix or buy new phone?

[Vesbon]

Let me preface this by saying that I truly hate my Sprint Hero phone (running Android 2.2). The number of times I've wanted to smash this phone on the ground or throw it out of my car is beyond count. I bought it 6 months ago and it's slowly driving me mad. The main problems are that it takes 20 plus seconds to connect to a phone number, it resets all the time for no reason, it's slow as molasses, and seems to know when I'm in a hurry and responds by freezing up.

Today, my wife called and really needed to get a hold of me. I could see her calling, but I could not answer the phone (it wasn't registering my touch to "slide down to answer."). That was the last straw.

I'm on a Sprint business account and I can upgrade my phone 6 months from now (Summer 2011). However, I can't wait that long and I need this fixed. Should I take it to the Sprint store and see if they can fix it? Should I see if I can get an EVO? I wouldn't mind waiting 6 more months for a better phone than the EVO (I'm sure by then there would be something better).

Any tips or recommendations?

Thanks
-v

 

[Frisco]

I'm on a Sprint business account and I can upgrade my phone 6 months from now (Summer 2011). However, I can't wait that long and I need this fixed.

I sure would not hesitate to return a defective device.

You might have to put on a happy face and positive attitude to get what you want, but you did pay for a functional phone, not something that seems to be almost useless to you now.

I'd go to the store immediately, with the goal of getting a replacement at no cost.

 

[Vesbon]

Thanks for the reply. My experience with the Sprint stores has been pretty bad, but I'll give it a try.

-v

 

[Vesbon]

Holy smokes... I just upgraded to the latest software upgrade and all problems have gone away and my phone is really fast.

I followed the advice from this link: HTC Hero for Sprint Receives a Maintenance Update | Android Phone Fans

Basically I did this:
Settings > About Phone > System Updates > HTC Software Update > Check Now

Although I couldn't find this version: 2.32.651.2 (it was one down from that).

Wow, what a difference!

 

[andygu3]

Holy smokes... I just upgraded to the latest software upgrade and all problems have gone away and my phone is really fast.

I followed the advice from this link: HTC Hero for Sprint Receives a Maintenance Update | Android Phone Fans

Basically I did this:
Settings > About Phone > System Updates > HTC Software Update > Check Now

Although I couldn't find this version: 2.32.651.2 (it was one down from that).

Wow, what a difference!

Or you could have gone to the Sprint Hero section and we would have pointed you in the right direction

 

[Frisco]

Or you could have gone to the Sprint Hero section and we would have pointed you in the right direction

That was my mistake, andygu3. After responding to the OP, I intended to move the thread to that device's support area, but forgot to do that and went on to other things.

I just now moved it.

 

[jasefl]

I must agree with EVERY WORD of the original thread.

I hate my HTC HERO phone--it is a great big zero.

I would not even give this phone to my worse enemy, it would be too cruel.


I do not feel the HTC android Google HERO phone was tested adeuately enough before being given to the public. It is a very time consuming device and does everything with long long delays.
Anything, I mean anything you ask it to do there is a long long delay before it actually operates.

When I power my phone on I know it will take at least 8 mins before I can use the phone so I turn it on and leave--go away and come back because it is very very frustrating on every level.

Why when I try to delete a text----it simply freezes----I cannot NOT delete any texts threads unless I open each and every one, one at a time-delete them-wait 4-5mins for it to delete, then open the next single text, delete it, wait 4-5 mins...etc......I have spoken to another person who has this exact phone and they tell me they go to the Sprint store and have them delete them---but it deletes EVERYTHING on the phone-----this is a software problem.

Why is there such a huge delay whenever touching ANYTHING on the touch screen. It is sooo long that I usually think it is NOT working so I press it again and then it does TWO tasks instead of the original one---so FRUSTRATING.

I am going to call Sprint and beg them to take this phone back and give me my original BLACKBERRY

If I have to continue to use this Android HTC Google HERO I will no doubt look for the highest bridge to jump off.

This phone drives me crazy and I detest it.

 

[andygu3]

I must agree with EVERY WORD of the original thread.

I hate my HTC HERO phone--it is a great big zero.

I would not even give this phone to my worse enemy, it would be too cruel.


I do not feel the HTC android Google HERO phone was tested adeuately enough before being given to the public. It is a very time consuming device and does everything with long long delays.
Anything, I mean anything you ask it to do there is a long long delay before it actually operates.

When I power my phone on I know it will take at least 8 mins before I can use the phone so I turn it on and leave--go away and come back because it is very very frustrating on every level.

Why when I try to delete a text----it simply freezes----I cannot NOT delete any texts threads unless I open each and every one, one at a time-delete them-wait 4-5mins for it to delete, then open the next single text, delete it, wait 4-5 mins...etc......I have spoken to another person who has this exact phone and they tell me they go to the Sprint store and have them delete them---but it deletes EVERYTHING on the phone-----this is a software problem.

Why is there such a huge delay whenever touching ANYTHING on the touch screen. It is sooo long that I usually think it is NOT working so I press it again and then it does TWO tasks instead of the original one---so FRUSTRATING.

I am going to call Sprint and beg them to take this phone back and give me my original BLACKBERRY

If I have to continue to use this Android HTC Google HERO I will no doubt look for the highest bridge to jump off.

This phone drives me crazy and I detest it.

Nice write up, never had troubles like you, so for that I feel for you

So.......was this a rant on the Hero being horrible phone or do you want some help in getting the phone to run better?

 

[thathrill]

I have to agree with the long delays. Phone is extremely laggy at the most inconvenient times. I never let my texts get past 50-60 so I am constantly deleting them. Then there is the stupid low storage space notification that I keep receiving. I haven't downloaded anything in ages. I will say that my phone is stock 2.1. I am planning on trying rooting to see how it is. In the meantime I have been looking at the Evo or the Epic. Can't make up my mind which I would like better

 

[andygu3]

I have to agree with the long delays. Phone is extremely laggy at the most inconvenient times. I never let my texts get past 50-60 so I am constantly deleting them. Then there is the stupid low storage space notification that I keep receiving. I haven't downloaded anything in ages. I will say that my phone is stock 2.1. I am planning on trying rooting to see how it is. In the meantime I have been looking at the Evo or the Epic. Can't make up my mind which I would like better

Clear all cache in manage applications, that should help in the low storage space notification.

I would root and try a froyo rom before buying a new phone, imo. Not going to solve all issues but you may find that the Hero isn't a piece of crap once you root, lol

 

[thathrill]

Clear all cache in manage applications, that should help in the low storage space notification.

I would root and try a froyo rom before buying a new phone, imo. Not going to solve all issues but you may find that the Hero isn't a piece of crap once you root, lol

Ive done the clear cache and it still says I have low storage. But the low storage indicator changes from time to time. It turned on last night, then I shut down and restarted my phone and it went away. I woke up this morning to find the message had come back and was up all day. I checked the cache and all was clear already. I just got home from work and just now noticed that the message is gone.

I honestly do not hate the phone. I know that there aren't any perfect phones. But the hero has become increasingly annoying with usage. The lag, the random restarts, low storage, etc is getting a bit out of hand. However I do plan on rooting before buying.