Test driving sprint(possibly hero) and leaving verizon(eris)

[carmendiva]

Now I know the eris and hero are essentially the same device with minor differences

but i am leaving verizon(for a month...im suspending service) to try sprint out...

Personally, I see what people say when they say sprint is cheaper(verizon has better coverage)

but im going to give them a month of my time

Is the hero a good phone? I know all about the evo but i am hoping that the way i am doing it, i'll still be able to get the evo within my 30 day period

I've read a few threads here in the forum and some of them are cluttered with pointless off topic comments
so i figured i'd just start a thread to figure out
what exactly are the current ideas and opinions of the sprint hero

I say this so people wouldn't say i didn't search
1)Complaints
2)Former complaints that have been addressed by sprint or htc
3)And any new info

have you guys gotten 2.0 yet?
and isn't the phone able to be rooted?

 

[Thefoodman52]

1) Complaints
Several from me.... for one lagging. It's not BAD, but it can get fairly hairy with Sense UI running. Another one is the screen. Not the actual screen, but typing on it. The edges of it are REALLY touch deaf, if you can say that. You have to kind of MASH the space bar, the P, and likewise. Any key/button near the edge is a masher to use. You tube doesn't work either, kind of annoying as that was one of the things I kind of really wanted when I got into this. The trackball as well. There's no 'issues' with it, other than it's not really good for text selection. It goes through text one letter at a time per swipe across it. If you really FLING your finger over it like you're trying to spin it so fast it's going to catch on fire from friction, you can go through... I'd say 8 or 9 characters. Overall, it's horrible for editing text, but it's perfect for almost everything else. The size bonus I think is attractive as well. I got sausage fingers, so anything that makes the things a bit easier to use on the phone by increasing the size of it (go ahead, think your dirty thought of 'male enhancement pills' lol) Uhh.... lets see.... not much else here.

2) Former complaints were like keyboard lag and whatnot... but if you get a Hero now or anytime in the future it comes pre-updated so you don't have to worry about any of that mess.

3) New info... we got 2.1 ROM's and what not, but other than that, not a whole lot more.


As far as actually GETTING 2.1, it's a gray area. We've been told we'll be getting it, but not date has been given. If you really want it, you can just root the phone and get it yourself with all the knick knacks the developers throw on top of it. Kind of like the extra cookie dough in the bottom of the bowl after baking cookies. XD

 

[Kelmar]

1) My ONLY complaint are a little lag now and then. Another HUGE complaint by a lot on the forums are MMS issues (I've never experienced this one though).
2) There was a 100% awake issue that was addressed with an MR update.
3) Umm... 2.1 is supposed to be out soon?

We are still on 1.5 and have been able to root for quite sometime.

FWIW, when I compare my monthly bill to what I used to pay... it is reason enough to keep me on sprint.

 

[carmendiva]

oh i understand most of your complaints as I have the HTC ERIS from verizon as stated above

1)MMS works when it wants...sometimes i get them, sometimes i don't...i have to turn wi-fi off to download them

2)My trackball on the eris actually is messed up i think...the screens move when i am not touching it or the screen and sometimes it moves in the middle of editing texts

3)Proximity sensor doesn't come on like it's supposed to

It looks like a lot of the issues you stated above are on the eris.

There are really no good phones on sprint
Samsung mOment is way too big and ugly to me
and the pixi's price is alluring with it being free however, lack of wifi and being slow as hell may kill my interest

I guess till the evo comes out, i may stick with a hero(the eris is incredibly laggy but ive gotten so used to it that i probably wouldn't notice it on the hero)

as far as bill...im supposed to be paying 130 a month for unlimited a month
but my bills are anywhere from 130-280 a month, how idk...

So sprint 69.99 plan may be good
i just hope i like their coverage....

 

[carmendiva]

1) Complaints
Several from me.... for one lagging. It's not BAD, but it can get fairly hairy with Sense UI running. Another one is the screen. Not the actual screen, but typing on it. The edges of it are REALLY touch deaf, if you can say that. You have to kind of MASH the space bar, the P, and likewise. Any key/button near the edge is a masher to use. You tube doesn't work either, kind of annoying as that was one of the things I kind of really wanted when I got into this. The trackball as well. There's no 'issues' with it, other than it's not really good for text selection. It goes through text one letter at a time per swipe across it. If you really FLING your finger over it like you're trying to spin it so fast it's going to catch on fire from friction, you can go through... I'd say 8 or 9 characters. Overall, it's horrible for editing text, but it's perfect for almost everything else. The size bonus I think is attractive as well. I got sausage fingers, so anything that makes the things a bit easier to use on the phone by increasing the size of it (go ahead, think your dirty thought of 'male enhancement pills' lol) Uhh.... lets see.... not much else here.

2) Former complaints were like keyboard lag and whatnot... but if you get a Hero now or anytime in the future it comes pre-updated so you don't have to worry about any of that mess.

3) New info... we got 2.1 ROM's and what not, but other than that, not a whole lot more.


As far as actually GETTING 2.1, it's a gray area. We've been told we'll be getting it, but not date has been given. If you really want it, you can just root the phone and get it yourself with all the knick knacks the developers throw on top of it. Kind of like the extra cookie dough in the bottom of the bowl after baking cookies. XD

Cute avatar btw
and lol @ the dirty thought line haha

and like i said in the eris forums, we are not getting 2.1
just like i was partially right about verizon nexus one...
while i said the desire would be the verizon version of the nexus one
instead of the droid incredible, either way vzw aint getting it

 

[Kelmar]

Try it, if you don't like it you can always return it within 30 days. Also, when Sprint roams, it does so onto Verizons network....

 

[carmendiva]

Try it, if you don't like it you can always return it within 30 days. Also, when Sprint roams, it does so onto Verizons network....

Yeah i heard
and can't it roam off of att and tmo

Also, i have a verizon wireless network extender
which boosts the signal of my phone when im in low coverage area

since i could roam off verizon would this box be obsolete or would it still increase signal if im roaming off their network

and also how do you
1)know if you are roaming off another network(its free right)
2)force yourself to roam on another netwrok

 

[Kelmar]

No idea on most of it.

I've heard that it's free to roam... but if you do it ALL the time, Sprint may drop your contract.

 

[tailsthecat]

To the O.P.: Cell service varies from person to person, device to device. I was with verizon for ten years until 2007. I took a three year break from cell phones and joined sprint this year. For me, sprints service and coverage is better than verizons. Not to mention sprints open source devices unlike verizons(mostly). Another thing to keep in mind is that, for me anyway, sprint is roaming partners with verizon. So if i am ever out of sprints home network(never happens, not yet anyway), i will have coverage on verizons network. In other words, i will never be without coverage ans havent been yet. As for the htc hero, this device is amazing. I had the samsung exclaim, blackberry curve and the blackberry tour before i got the hero. I have nothing bad to say about the hero. It has been better for me than any of the three devices i had before it. Work with the device, respect it and it will be perfect for you. So there is a summary of my experience. Sprints service/coverage is great(for me), customer service is great...and i get a 25% monthly discount because of my employment. Good luck making your decision, i hope sprint works for you.

 

[carmendiva]

To the O.P.: Cell service varies from person to person, device to device. I was with verizon for ten years until 2007. I took a three year break from cell phones and joined sprint this year. For me, sprints service and coverage is better than verizons. Not to mention sprints open source devices unlike verizons(mostly). Another thing to keep in mind is that, for me anyway, sprint is roaming partners with verizon. So if i am ever out of sprints home network(never happens, not yet anyway), i will have coverage on verizons network. In other words, i will never be without coverage ans havent been yet. As for the htc hero, this device is amazing. I had the samsung exclaim, blackberry curve and the blackberry tour before i got the hero. I have nothing bad to say about the hero. It has been better for me than any of the three devices i had before it. Work with the device, respect it and it will be perfect for you. So there is a summary of my experience. Sprints service/coverage is great(for me), customer service is great...and i get a 25% monthly discount because of my employment. Good luck making your decision, i hope sprint works for you.

thank you!
I live in New Jersey!
and yeah you are right about signal between device to device.
i've had two verizon phones(Storm and eris)
and the eris signal is horrible yet the storm seems to have better signal

but i hope sprint works for me too

 

[oldjackbob]

how do you...know if you are roaming off another network(its free right)

When you're roaming you'll see a triangle above your signal strength bar display.

Roaming isn't exactly free...roaming minutes are deducted from your monthly allotment of anytime minutes.

 

[tailsthecat]

thank you!
I live in New Jersey!
and yeah you are right about signal between device to device.
i've had two verizon phones(Storm and eris)
and the eris signal is horrible yet the storm seems to have better signal

but i hope sprint works for me too

Im in massachusetts. About twenty minutes south of boston on the south shore, like i said, i always have coverage. And if youre in the city, sprint cant be touched. A friend of mine works in the city, in a union and nobody but sprint users can make calls in the basements of those buildings, hes told me. As a long time verizon supporter, i can say with confidence that ive made the right choice ny choosing sprint to get back into the cell phone arena.

 

[carmendiva]

When you're roaming you'll see a triangle above your signal strength bar display.

Roaming isn't exactly free...roaming minutes are deducted from your monthly allotment of anytime minutes.

But its basically the same as just using the minutes for a regular call right?
it doesnt deduct more or less or charge extra or anything

 

[tailsthecat]

When you're roaming you'll see a triangle above your signal strength bar display.

Roaming isn't exactly free...roaming minutes are deducted from your monthly allotment of anytime minutes.

That is incorrect. Roaming is free and does not deduct from your minutes when on the everything data plan. Only calls to and from land lines go against your minutes

 

[Eaglesfan9106]

thank you!
I live in New Jersey!
and yeah you are right about signal between device to device.
i've had two verizon phones(Storm and eris)
and the eris signal is horrible yet the storm seems to have better signal

but i hope sprint works for me too

well I live in philly and my coverage is great can't complain

 

[avacomputers]

That is incorrect. Roaming is free and does not deduct from your minutes when on the everything data plan. Only calls to and from land lines go against your minutes

Wrong. To be using any mobile minutes the call must have originated on a sprint tower.

 

[viperboy]

FWIW, my Dad used my Droid for a few days, thought he would like the Android OS and since he has Sprint, he chose the Hero. He hates it compared to the Droid. Granted, you're coming from an Eris, but his big complaint was lag as well, just like the Eris. It's basically going to be the same device.

 

[oldjackbob]

That is incorrect. Roaming is free and does not deduct from your minutes when on the everything data plan. Only calls to and from land lines go against your minutes

Re-read your fine print...mobile internet while roaming is free (but you risk consequences if you go over 800MB while roaming, or if the majority of your data is roaming), but roaming voice minutes are deducted from your land line minutes.

But its basically the same as just using the minutes for a regular call right? it doesnt deduct more or less or charge extra or anything

That is correct. It's charged as though it were a regular land line call. As far as whether it's free on evenings and weekends like land line calls, I don't know.

 

[tailsthecat]

Wrong. To be using any mobile minutes the call must have originated on a sprint tower.

you mean to NOT use minutes? then its time for me to call customer service/account services and be angry

 

[jeffreynothing43]

No idea on most of it.

I've heard that it's free to roam... but if you do it ALL the time, Sprint may drop your contract. Yes, you can force yourself to roam.

how do you force roam with the hero?

 

[V425]

you mean to NOT use minutes? then its time for me to call customer service/account services and be angry

the exceptions to "any mobile, anytime" are international calls and calls made while roaming... but calls made while roaming or to land lines are so rare for me that I never go anywhere close to using my 450 minutes

 

[NYCHitman1]

I personally love Sprint due to their pricing (no company can top it) and I get excellent coverage wherever I am. If you decide to come over to Sprint, I would advise waiting for 2.1 to release on the Hero, Nexus One releases (sometime in May), or wait for the EVO 4G. Happy hunting

 

[Kelmar]

how do you force roam with the hero?

Ah... guess it's "sprint only" or "automatic." Hmm, I thought it was an option.

UPdated my original post to reflect! Good catch!

 

[JB in AZ]

Ah... guess it's "sprint only" or "automatic." Hmm, I thought it was an option.

UPdated my original post to reflect! Good catch!

I seem to remember a post here awhile back that indicated someone had found a way to force roaming on the Hero. Can't seem to find it by searching. If I do, I will update this post.

Edit: Not easy but here it is

http://androidforums.com/sprint-htc-hero/38716-hey-i-just-forced-my-hero-roam.html

 

[Kelmar]

Please do!

I swore there was a way to do it but I couldn't find it on a quick scroll through the settings on the phone.