Root To Root...or not to root..

[CharlzO]

So...short background of mine. I've never had any issues with my Thunderbolt, never had the rebooting after OTA, or anything of the sort. I've never had any issues with memory, or locking up, or any of the countless other possible glitches.

So, for me, the only main reason TO root the phone, would be to remove the bloatware. From what I read (and correct me if I'm off), but rooting the phone will basically allow me to remove that, everything else should be pretty much fine, assuming a stable switchover and ROM, etc.. but I will be missing OTA updates, and will have to rely on manually updating this stuff on my own, should I decide to.

Aside from the bloatware removal, and considering I am more than happy enough with the phone, is there really any other reason for me to want to root this thing? I don't experience slowdowns on the phone, and I have the apps hidden through Go Launcher, so I don't even see them unless I happen to click the running tab and Slacker stares at me in the face as a constant reminder.

I keep telling myself that I have no need to, but EVERY so often when I read a thread about the bloat, the idea creeps into the back of my head. Any other reason other than the above, to root the phone? (not counting battery issues, since my usage isn't an issue, I constantly stream Pandora, I only have 3G in my area, and am never without a charging source).

 

[snoopy2699]

I have had zero issues with my Bolt as well. The only reason I was going to root was it try to get Netflix.

I'm just going to wait and see if they push GB out by the end of the month though. I'm in no rush though because like you, I dont have any problems with the phone including always having a charging source.

 

[Ibrick]

Another leaked version of an upgraded radio was just released, however it is still froyo based.

It uses the new RIL so it works with both GB and Froyo. However from what I've gathered the official GB release is still a couple months away. End of August-ish.

 

[UBRocked]

Another leaked version of an upgraded radio was just released, however it is still froyo based.

It uses the new RIL so it works with both GB and Froyo. However from what I've gathered the official GB release is still a couple months away. End of August-ish.

I read that the new Radio is only for GB ROMs...so I'd read up on that before flashing it on a Froyo build.

But I've said this before...if bloatware is the only reason to root, you probably shouldn't root. If you hate the idea of manually updating your firmware vs getting OTA updates...you shouldn't root.

If you think sense 3.0 will ever come to the TB in form of an OTA...you are probably mistaken. But parts of sense 3.0 are already incorporated into many custom ROMs and eventually I'm sure we will have a fully functional sense 3.0 ROM running GB (probably soon).

So you have to figure out what you want out of your phone...and decide if you have to and are willing to root to get it.

 

[CharlzO]

Pretty sure that's why at the end of each day, I haven't bothered rooting. It really is only the bloatware, and like I said, I have it all hidden, and it doesn't affect my phone, have had no other issues either. So it would really only be to remove something, just for the sake of doing it. Maybe in the future if some other OTA makes my phone wacky or something, but for now, I think it's staying stock now if I can just get more creative with customizing a theme / background / icons..

 

[UBRocked]

Pretty sure that's why at the end of each day, I haven't bothered rooting. It really is only the bloatware, and like I said, I have it all hidden, and it doesn't affect my phone, have had no other issues either. So it would really only be to remove something, just for the sake of doing it. Maybe in the future if some other OTA makes my phone wacky or something, but for now, I think it's staying stock now if I can just get more creative with customizing a theme / background / icons..

Take it at your own pace. If you don't feel comfortable rooting, then don't root it. These new phones are different than some of the older Gen phones. The original Droid needed to be rooted so you could make it run reasonably fast. A stock TB is plenty fast enough so rooting isn't "necessary".

Once you do bite the bullet and root and ROM it, you'll probably say what most people do..."Why didn't I do this sooner?" But like I said, it really isn't necessary so don't let anyone tell you it is.

 

[Ibrick]

I read that the new Radio is only for GB ROMs...so I'd read up on that before flashing it on a Froyo build.

The new radio only works on GB ROM's right now because all of the current Froyo builds are based off the older RIL, which is updated in the new leak to work with Froyo and GB. It is a Froyo update however.

Eventually when GB is officially released, probably end of Aug, early Sept, from what I've read, the radio will then not need to be updated.

To the OP, I'd read up on the other benefits and risks of rooting. IMO, the benefits FAR outweigh the potential risks. It's not something you want to jump into without doing your research first. I think once you're comfortable and the phone is rooted you'll wish you had done it sooner.

The TBolt is good in stock form, great when rooted.

I will warn you though, once you cross over, you'll never go back.

 

[UBRocked]

The new radio only works on GB ROM's right now because all of the current Froyo builds are based off the older RIL, which is updated in the new leak to work with Froyo and GB. It is a Froyo update however.

Eventually when GB is officially released, probably end of Aug, early Sept, from what I've read, the radio will then not need to be updated.

To the OP, I'd read up on the other benefits and risks of rooting. IMO, the benefits FAR outweigh the potential risks. It's not something you want to jump into without doing your research first. I think once you're comfortable and the phone is rooted you'll wish you had done it sooner.

The TBolt is good in stock form, great when rooted.

I will warn you though, once you cross over, you'll never go back.

But the new radio will not work on any of the current Froyo based ROMs right?

And yes, once you've rooted and ROMed...it kind of spoils you because you get used to all the extra performance and visual customizations.

 

[TheSultan]

I've been having this discussion with myself since owning the Eris, and then with the DInc, and now the TB. I did actually root the DInc, successfully, and got nervous and went back to stock. My biggest reasons also are for removing bloatware. I'd also love to be able to do screen shots without connecting to a computer. I use LauncherPro, so I like the way the phone looks with that. There are a few features I think I'd enjoy with root--but I'm just too concerned that I don't know what I'm doing--and for that reason, have avoided it.

But, like the OP, it's always there, lurking in the dark, trying to pull me back in....

 

[CharlzO]

I think the other part that keeps me from doing it, is that I am nowhere near as creative as some of the people in the Screenshot thread. While I would LOVE to be able to set up stuff like that, I just don't have the experience to do so. So rooting for me would open up that potential for greatness, I just wouldn't be able to take full advantage.