Complete newbie...

[BernyB]

I've seen a lot of threads about rooting vs. stock. I know that there is a significant amount of difference from one to the other. It's been compared as day to night. What my main question is what differences did you notice right away? I'm currently running stock but am seriously thinking about rooting and going with a custom rom. My main issues are the lag with the phone.

I'm already pro-rooting but would like to know your experience from before to after you did it. Also can a novice learn how to root and switch back if needed?

 

[Kelmar]

Moved your thread to the root section, I would offer more help but in at work right now.

 

[BernyB]

Thank you so much!

 

[androidtp]

rooting is recommended if you want to get rid of your lag. overall it just makes your phone much more faster..you have access to apps you wouldn't have within the stock..froyo is great as well

i would go into more depth, but i'm at work as well

 

[andygu3]

I've seen a lot of threads about rooting vs. stock. I know that there is a significant amount of difference from one to the other. It's been compared as day to night. What my main question is what differences did you notice right away? I'm currently running stock but am seriously thinking about rooting and going with a custom rom. My main issues are the lag with the phone.

I'm already pro-rooting but would like to know your experience from before to after you did it. Also can a novice learn how to root and switch back if needed?

Root, you'll be much happier and will have a brand new phone

Look for everything root http://androidforums.com/sprint-her...g-guide-updated-7-10pm-est-aug-30-2010-a.html

It all depends what you want with your phone. If you like the Sense UI go with one of these: Fresh [ROM] 08/30/10 | Fresh Hero 2.4.0 | Incremental Update For Freshness - xda-developers or Zen [ROM] Zen-ROM Updated 08-30-2010. - xda-developers or NFX [ROM] NFX-Hero 2.2.1.update1, 9/5/2010 Friendstream+Deodexed/ODEX+JIT & more - xda-developers

if you want an AOSP rom (vanilla android os) go with froyo [ROM] CyanogenMod-6 for Hero CDMA - V6.0.0 (09/18/2010) - xda-developers

Best advice I can give you is read as much as you

DO NOT FLASH ANYTHING GSM RELATED

ONLY CDMA

 

[MahaloCat]

Try Running Different Launchers - I use LauncherPro - others love ADW -
This got rid of ALL LAG I had.

NO ISSUES LOVE MY HERO

Also - Much easier FIX ... . . . and won't void the Warranty

 

[krazeejb]

I'm coming from a flip-phone for the last 4 years and finally got a smart phone (Hero) in March, and just recently rooted. So I've gone through some dramatic changes needless to say. When I first got the Hero, it was freaking awesome. Of course, coming from an old school phone, that's not saying much.

I'm a techy kinda guy and read up on rooting the phone for the last month and finally decided to take the plunge. I loaded CM6 as well as many other mods you'll read about. I will say, the phone is much snappier and quicker. However, with rooting, you'll also run into minor issues with some of the releases so be prepared to stay on top of things and continue reading the forums. For example, the latest build has a minor GPS issue. There's a fix, but if you load a ROM and run with it, you'll run into these things. Just somethign to keep in mind. If you like staying on top of these things and don't mind the occasional issue, I'd say rooting is the way to go. If you aren't techy and dont' want to stay on top of updates and get frustrated with minor issues that may need fixing, I'd stay with the stock. My two cents from my experience.

 

[jen8112]

It all depends what you want with your phone. If you like the Sense UI go with one of these: Fresh [ROM] 08/30/10 | Fresh Hero 2.4.0 | Incremental Update For Freshness - xda-developers or Zen [ROM] Zen-ROM Updated 08-30-2010. - xda-developers or NFX [ROM] NFX-Hero 2.2.1.update1, 9/5/2010 Friendstream+Deodexed/ODEX+JIT & more - xda-developers

I rooted and flashed 2.2 but missed Sense so went back to stock 1.5. Which is the best out of these? I assume they are all better than stock 2.1?

 

[Kelmar]

Preference. One may like your phone and another may not. Personally, I'd go with Fresh (from my own experience) but they are all quality ROMs.

 

[jen8112]

Try Running Different Launchers - I use LauncherPro - others love ADW -
This got rid of ALL LAG I had.

NO ISSUES LOVE MY HERO

Also - Much easier FIX ... . . . and won't void the Warranty

What does LauncherPro do and where do you get it, I can't find it in the Market? Does this remove stock apps because part of the reason I rooted was to get rid of some stock apps but have yet to figure out how to do it?

 

[Kelmar]

What does LauncherPro do and where do you get it, I can't find it in the Market? Does this remove stock apps because part of the reason I rooted was to get rid of some stock apps but have yet to figure out how to do it?

LauncherPro is a different "theme" for the homescreen. It essentially replaces Sense.

Are you comfortable using CMD to type code or would you rather use an app to get rid of the bloatware?

 

[jen8112]

LauncherPro is a different "theme" for the homescreen. It essentially replaces Sense.

Are you comfortable using CMD to type code or would you rather use an app to get rid of the bloatware?

Definitely an app. I saw the instructions for the code stuff and was pretty sure it wasn't in English!

 

[Kelmar]

Lol! I remember when I used to say that, now I fly through it like it's nothing.


You can download Root Explorer from the market. I think it's 1.99

MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP! Open the app, go to system>app. Click on the top so it saw r/w. Long press on the items you want to remove and press "delete."



OR



Use one of the ROM's from above... they mostly have all the bloatware taken out already.

 

[jen8112]

Haha thanks. I'm backing up now and I'm gonna try Fresh!

 

[Kelmar]

Sounds good! Glad to see you decided to root after all

 

[jen8112]

Is there anyway to get rid of the "End Call" touch button?

 

[Kelmar]

Which one? The one in calls?

 

[jen8112]

Ya the big red one at the bottom. I'm afraid I'm going to hit it, like I did with my Moment, by accident. It's not needed because there is a hardware button.

 

[Kelmar]

IIRC, there is a hack to remove it somewhere on the XDA forums. Posting from my phone so not even going to try to look for it right now

 

[Kelmar]

[MOD]Remove 'End Call' Soft Key While Call in Progress - Updated 5/26 for Fresh 2.1.2 - Page 2 - xda-developers

Jen, look into that. I don't know if it'll work with Fresh 2.4.0 though. Only one way to find out! As always, make a Nandroid first!

 

[BernyB]

Thanks everyone for your advice. The thing that aggravates me is that we are coming from Centro's where we had to charge our phones every few days. Right now we're having to charge every day. I know that we could get an after market battery but we would really love to keep our phones as stock as possible.