The upgrade gives you more features, apps, and the phone runs better. Plus your picture mail will always work. In my opinion, it's worth it.

 

I have yet to take the 2.1 plunge. I have rooted my phone and removed the crap I don't want which makes 1.5 pretty alright. The biggest draw of 2.1 for me is the Apps I can't access cause I'm on 1.5 like Google Nav and Goggles. I know I can flash a 2.1 ROM, but for now I'm content to just wait it out a little more and see if 2.1 gets rooted.

 

Given all the issues that would irritate me (possible loss of Bluetooth, the vibrating when a call connects, laggy landscape keyboard, the various issues with making/receiving calls), I'm sticking with 1.5.

And I will probably avoid HTC devices in the future (at least as long as they're responsible for ROM updates).

You need to read about what problems people are having, what new things people like and decide whether to upgrade based on that.

What I find interesting is that there seems to be no common denominator with the problems (heck, some people report no problems) and that not everyone has the same loss/change of features and not even necessarily the ones I mentioned.

 

My wife and I are still in kind of a wait and see mode. I'm reading about a lot of serious issues (calls failing, bad battery life, lagging more than 1.5) here and on the Sprint forum. My main reason for upgrading would be for voice to text but I don't want it at the expense of good functionality with other things (especially basic phone functions). 1.5 is running pretty good for us.

There seems to be such a widely varied experience between users that have done the upgrade, from "I absolutely love it" to "I hate it and want my old phone back" and everything in between. If I could turn back after trying 2.1, I would do it in a heartbeat but once you upgrade you're stuck with it, like it or not. I've been looking forward to this release for a looong time like everybody else. It's killing me not to just DO IT!
I may volunteer to be the "guinea pig" for my wife and some friends with the Hero and take the plunge soon
More reviews by the brave souls that have done the upgrade would be greatly appreciated!

 

Honestly, when I had 1.5, the phone lagged a lot. 2.1 isn't any worse. Battery life is EXACTLY the same for me. It's just fine.

 

I know people who don't want to root get sick of hearing this but.... wanted to make sure you knew just in case you hadn't heard, you can turn back after trying 2.1 if you root it first and flash a 2.1 rom (not the download from Sprint, but still builds off the official 2.1).

 

If you really want to try 2.1 and be able to go back, then root your phone and flash a ROM. The only reason I haven't flashed one yet is cause I can't find one definitive ROM that I like the look of and am not fond of setting up my phone repeatedly. My main reason for the root was to remove Sprint programs that I couldn't otherwise remove, which I have done.

Edit: Heaterz beat me to it, but I typed it all out and didn't want it to be in vain.

 

I've thought about rooting and flashing one of the ROMs but I don't really want to get into all that if I can help it. I'm slightly tech savvy but this is my first smart phone and hacking it seems a little beyond my abilities at this point. Besides, I'm of the mind that it's supposed to be Sprint\HTC's job to give us an update that actually works.
Thanks for the suggestions though.

Edit to add: Please keep those reviews and first impressions coming!

 

Is anyone here experiencing USB connectivity problems after the upgrade? It seems to be an issue.
Hero by HTC:Loss of USB connectivity from HTC Hero...

 

I say if you like the phone the way it is and there are no problems, don't upgrade. People will tell you it is better (like me), but I troubleshoot problems everyday. I hate when new Microsoft patches come out because I know something will break.

If it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

I do have to say, I have not tried the official update, but Fresh 2.1.1 is working great for me, and I haven't had any of the bluetooth, audio, or keyboard issues. Maybe it's the bloatware from Sprint that is causing these issues. You can't really blame HTC for apps that are added onto the ROM after they approved it.

I have also been using Slide it for my keypad. Since using that, I haven't even tilted my phone into landscape mode to type since the slide keypad works so well.

 

I've been using Shapewriter and Swype and trying to decide which one I like better. I have to agree, landscape mode for my keyboard is a non thought these days. If you don't like the lag with landscape, get one these slide keyboards and don't look back. You won't regret it.

EDIT: Sorry about getting off topic, but I know some people use the lag as a reason to upgrade or not to upgrade.

 

Ha. I am staying with 1.5 indefinitely. I tried to upgrade my Hero, was unsuccessful, but in the process screwed up my bluetooth stuff. So, I wiped the phone and started over, with 1.5. It's a good phone and I don't want to deal with the headaches of trying to upgrade and all the quirks that go with 2.1 right now.

Bonus: After wiping the phone, I can receive pictures via text again!! Woohoo!

 

Well I took the plunge and updated my hero to 2.1, mine and my sisters device and I have no complaints. It is much faster to me in a lot of ways. No keyboard lag, the apps open a little faster and it responds faster. I have no battery problems, oh and the phone boots up alot faster as well, no 2 hour wait, lol. Anyhoo I have no complaints although I don't use bluetooth so I can't speak on that.

 

It's a tough choice for me right now. I'm rooted and installed the 2.1 ROM and loving it! Youtube finally works, mms issues fixed, able to install 2.1 based apps, and the most important benefit is the improved responsiveness. My only problem is the bluetooth connection. I guess I have older bluetooth devices that are having problem connecting with the updated bluetooth on 2.1.
So now I'm debating either to keep 2.1 and don't use bluetooth or go back to 1.5 which was so laggy in every aspect. I have tried installing almost all flavors of 2.1, fresh, damage, darchlegend and all have the same bluetooth issue.

 

Any desire to root? You can "try" 2.1 that way and decide if you want to upgrade or not.

If not, and you are happy with 1.5, stay there! You never know what can of worms the upgrade will bring!

 

Nope, not for 2.1 at least. 2.1 is not an OTA update and has to be hooked up to your computer to be done (or taken to Sprint). FWIW, if you are comfortable doing this yourself, you would also be comfortable rooting. It's kind of scary when you first do it but then you think nothing of it when you realize how easy it is to do!

To my knowledge, updating your profile is kind of like refreshing YOUR information with Sprint. I could be off a bit on this one though).

 

No problem, let me know if you decide to try one path or another

 

Did a search and can't find the info.. but for 1.5 what is the best turn by turn gps navigation.

I know google nav is only for 1.6+ and not a fan of sprint nav.

 

This is why I went to 2.1. I believe your only option with pre-2.1 is Sprint Telenav.