Just ordered the Captivate. What next?

First thing i would do is update to 2.2 and try it for a few weeks and see if you like it. if not you could flash but if you like it the way it is no need to flash a rom

I would update to the official 2.2 then if you still want more:

There is a lot of info here: FAQ - CapFAQ

Plus before you root or flash read this: Risks and benefits of flashing a ROM - CapFAQ

and

ROMs and Flashing - CapFAQ

Good luck

Despotes said:

After making sure the thing works and doesn't have the shutdown issue I should upgrade to 2.2 or use a custom ROM? If so, which is the most stable and gives me the most control over apps, conserving battery ect?

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Forget the 2.2 Froyo from AT&T. Quite literally, you're not going to notice a huge difference in ANYTHING between 2.1 and 2.2. Sure, there are some extra features and crap, but unless you are ultra familiar with 2.1 vs 2.2, you're really not going to know any different.

Leave the phone alone until you are confident that it's not going to have the random shutdown issues (my 1st one did). I'd give it at least 4-5 days of being on all the time... your tests/results may vary.

As for ultimately getting 2.2 - You'll definitely want to get a custom ROM. Flashing one isn't brain surgery and you'll rid your phone of the preloaded garbage stuff that just takes up space. The trick to ROMs is to try lots of 'em. Each one will act slightly different on your phone. One may give you AWESOME GPS, but the layout or color scheme may not be what you want. Others may be rock solid daily-drivers, but your GPS or speed could suffer.

The neat thing you'll find is that you can even 'customize' a custom ROM. I have tried a bunch of ROMs and keep coming back to Andromeda. It has proved itself rock solid for me with one exception - The modem used in that ROM doesn't give me great call quality - Through my flashing of ROMs, I found a modem version that works great on my phone - NOW - I'm running Andromeda for its speed, stability, layout, but I've flashed a different modem for the best call quality.

Bottom line - Try ATT Froyo or don't - Either way, in most cases, you're going to ultimately want to make your phone run the way that YOU want it to run, not ATT - I just urge you to do some SERIOUS homework on flashing.... oh yeah, and don't be a cheap-ass... you have a ~$400-$500 phone - Spend the $10 on a jig that will save you lots of time and aggravation later on. It becomes almost comical when you see countless posts about people bricking their phones and trying virtually every trick there is to get the thing into Download Mode, but for whatever reason, they're too cheap to spend $10 for the correct tool.

GOOD LUCK - GOT QUESTIONS? JUST ASK.

[edit] Forgot to mention - I think you picked the right phone. I got my first Cappy almost a month ago and the phone just keeps getting cooler and cooler. Sure, you'll find people that have moved on and YES, there are "faster" phones out there, but the overall Cappy package has a LOT going for it.

If you ordered it from AT&T it is more than likely coming with Froyo already.

Upgrade to froyo first. contrary to what some people say you can get good battery life and no lag on it. If yours is straight from the factory you should at least give the official upgrade a try before you go messing with the phone like that. If you don't like the official one then by all means flash a custom rom, but you may find you don't need to.

If ur getting a brand new device it shouldn't have the shutdown issue. It is my understanding that was a problem with the units manufactured thru November. Check the date on it and make sure, if it was I would return it and insist they send you one made after Nov. The only reason I had froyo on mine was for tethering, but I have unlimited data. If you use odin or a custom Rom it won't have the restriction on tethering. I got mine launch day and had a lot of problems with it, but I didn't have shutdown issues. I bought the inspire on the 15th and it is so much better. It runs so much smoother, just seems to have better software. Hope this helps!

If it's not on there, definitely update to the new Froyo. Personally, it works great for me.

Why?

drapacioli said:

Upgrade to froyo first. contrary to what some people say you can get good battery life and no lag on it. If yours is straight from the factory you should at least give the official upgrade a try before you go messing with the phone like that. If you don't like the official one then by all means flash a custom rom, but you may find you don't need to.

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I agree with this. If you are unhappy, upgrade to 2.2, then root, then flash a ROM if none of those make it any better.

2.2 will give you better performance and will let you get flash on your phone, which is totally worth the hour (at most) that you'll spend upgrading it.

Froyo - CapFAQ

Rooting can help you customize it without flashing a new ROM, which could end up worse than a root (ROM gives you more customization, it's slightly less safe, more places where you can mess up and destroy your phone while in the process of doing it).

I'd say just upgrade to 2.2 and then download tons of apps that you want to play with. I like searching things like "best android apps" or "best android apps 2011" in google and just looking through those lists, and the app market is a really great tool for looking through apps on your comp and downloading them really easily (one click DL).

Fremen said:

Rooting can help you customize it without flashing a new ROM, which could end up worse than a root (ROM gives you more customization, it's slightly less safe, more places where you can mess up and destroy your phone while in the process of doing it).

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Only if you are seriously trying to.