android is linux based. linux has a "super user" account called root. rooting or rooted means that the user/owner has super user access on the phone.
There are a lot of apps that require root to work. The two most important in my opinion is Apps2SD which allows you to install apps to your SD card and run them from there. And wifi tether. Right now neither work.
if you horribly mess up your phone, flash it back to stock. flashing back to the stock image has fixed the worst bricking we've seen so far.
if you don't know much about Linux, right now there isn't a very good reason to root your phone unfortunately. most of the apps people want to use don't work and the only thing I've done with root is remove some of the sprint apps.
Finally rooted mine last night and removed all the preloaded stuff (didn't get the widgets it seems.. have to reread where those are located)... I didn't do the persistant root just the temporary root access since i dont like the persistant method yet.. waiting for somethign like the droid root to be developed (will have to wait for first update for the phone to exploit the code)Numus, I deleted some of the Sprint apps (Weather Channel, NASCAR, NFL, IM and Bejeweled demo).
Can't say that I've seen a memory "increase" per se (Settings>SD Card and Phone Storage) but I have seen fewer background applicatons starting without my permission and taking up valuable resources.
Additionally, my phone seems to have a bit more zip without those applications running in the background as well.
yeh i was just gonna ask the same question `what is rooting`but i`m the same as ,aclark i`m not to clued up on linux and rooting and all this technical talk lol "thicko" ;0) so i`m better of just sticking to what i know but thanx guys .
if you don't know much about Linux, right now there isn't a very good reason to root your phone unfortunately. most of the apps people want to use don't work and the only thing I've done with root is remove some of the sprint apps.