Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I'm on the Sprint SERO plan and have been using a Motorola Q9c for over 2 years. I picked up a HTC TP2 (which for the time being is the best phone you can use for SERO) but after using it for a few months, decided it wasn't for me and sold it.

Sprint recently announced that they're going to lift the phone restrictions for SERO customers in October so now I'm looking at possible upgrades/replacements.

I went to the Sprint store to check out the Hero, EVO, etc. and while the EVO is nice, I don't want to pay an extra $10 for a 4g phone, especially since 4g isn't even available in my area yet. The same would apply to the Samsung Epic coming out soon. So that leaves me with limited choices and I checked out the HTC Hero. I didn't get to play with it too much inside the store but I liked the size and feel of it.

Do you guys think it's still worth getting a HERO now considering how long it's been out? What's a good price to pay for a used one?

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I just went from my 4th TP2 windoz phone since April this year to a fully updated Hero. Yes..I think it is worth it if this is the only one you like.If the only cost is the extra $10 that is stopping you from going whole hog to one of the top tier phones..even if you don't have access to the 4g network yet..It's a bit having to pay for it when you don't use it..but you can also check and see when you will be able to use it.I would find a way to spend the money or get an additional discount and then get the Galaxy (Epic by Sprint) when it is available if you. You should at least go sign up for it now...if you want to stay with a physical keyboard,and besides you can always change you mind later if you don't want it.

Mac

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I think if phones like the Evo and Epic are kind of out of your price range, then the Hero would be a good choice. I have seen you are looking at Diamonds and such, and this is a much better choice. I saw you browse the web a bit form other posts and this is/was a great phone for internet browsing (at least it was for me). I would say anywhere from $125-175, but I could be off a little, all depends on condition and all that.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Thanks for the responses. It's not that the Evo and Epic are out of my price range...I don't mind paying the extra $10 monthly for the 4g phones if it meant I actually got 4g service.

By going to an android phone on the SERO plan, I already have to pay an additional $10 per month - can't justify paying another $10 on top of that for essentially the same service.

I probably web surf more on my phone than make actual calls so internet speed is important to me. lol While my old Motorola q9c was really outdated, the internet was amazingly fast compared to my recent TP2. Yeah I've been checking out Diamonds too but if the internet is anything like the TP2, then I won't bother. I just figured the Hero would be different being that it's an android device rather than a wm.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I really disliked surfing with my TP2's. they all seemed to lag no matter where I was at with them. I can say the Hero I have now doesn't seem to do this and works very well..in the same locations I used the TP2's..Also the battery life is much better so far.The Evo from my comparisons of them work even better ( except for battery life) and I am guessing here..but would imagine the Epic will probably do as well. If I had to choose between the Epic and Evo..I would go for the Epic with the better screen and processor to tell ya the truth,but the weight and size of both of them is almost at a point of not wanting to get either one of them for me.but I text more than surf the web with mine and I have absolutely no need to down load movies to mine like some folks I know do with the Evo..

The new Hero is a nice phone and will do most people well..and the keyboard is getting easier to use with practice for me. It is a hard choice..I know,but the reliability for me along with the all the features,and ease of downloading all the different apps made it a no brainer for my choice. The Android is certainly different than Windows..and has a lot of development going on with it,so to me unless Microsoft makes some really worth while changes (which isn't likely) Android will be the standard to choose from for quite a while. Good Luck on yours.

Mac

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

since a froyo rom is almost finished for the hero, id say yes buy it.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

When you say the "new" Hero, is there a newer version out or something? I've been browsing craigslist, ebay and this site for Heros and noticed some of them are listed as the Hero 200.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

While it is still a 200..the new 2.1updated software makes it seem like a totally different phone. We took my wifes Hero into the Sprint store dropped it off and had them update it yesterday while we did some shopping.Took them about 45 minutes saving all the contacts for us on the phone. To her it is hands down 10x better than before. The ring lag (which is still there) seems much less and the typing is way better for her to text message with as well. She also likes having all of her screens condensed on the home screen so she can get to her apps faster. Comparing them to both my sons Hero's standing side by side with the same signal to the router ours will connect to the web faster than theirs and can surf faster as well. So the software has to be tweaked in someway IMHO to allow this. If you buy one off Craig's list then take it in and let the store update it,unless you plan on rooting it and using a different rom. I plan on rooting it sooner or later..but I'm having fun with it as it is for right now.

Mac

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

So is the 200 the newer model with the 2.1 software? If I planned to root and use a custom rom, the version of the physical phone wouldn't matter right?

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

almost finished he says, I just flashed to this badboy earlier this afternoon.
Froyo your heart out: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=731659
So far no big problems and I love the customization!

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I picked up the Hero and used it for about 2 weeks and I really liked it at first. Coming from a TP2 it was definitely faster and Android 2.1 is great. However, I noticed that the more apps I loaded on it the slower it got. After adding about 20 or so different apps it got to the point that it made my TP2 look like a superphone. Another issue I had with the Hero was the fact that there will not be an official 2.2 update. I know I can get a custom ROM here, but I really wanted to avoid that route unless absolutely necessary. The last thing (and the thing that ultimately made me bring it back) was the lack of a physical keyboard. I have big fingers, and I loved the QWERTY keyboard on my TP2, but the virtual keyboard on the Hero is too small for me. I will be getting the Samsung Epic (already placed a pre-order at RS). I don't mind the extra $10.00, and I need the keyboard.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

:sign3: Thank god they finally made a super phone with a keyboard

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

That's also why I never jumped on the EVO bandwagon.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I've been browsing various sites including this one for a Hero but was wondering what an appropriate price should be. I figure with the Evo out and the Epic coming out soon, the demand/price wouldn't be as great but I may be wrong.

Any input as to how much I should expect to pay for a Hero?

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Considering its $149 with a contract at Sprint, and the phone has been out for over a year, I wouldn't pay more than that. A quick search on my local Craigslist found 6 of them for $150.00, so I guess that's where the market is.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Yeah in my area (NYC) they're going for $125-$150 it seems.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I've owned the HTC Hero thru Sprint since November.
I do like it, but wouldn't get it today due to it being underpowered by current standards.
It was pretty good with the native Android1.5, but I've flashed current Fresh ROMS as they come.
Android 2.x is a little too much for this phone.
There is a weird audio bug, where periodically the audio will just quit (there is a Bug ID for this, and is supposedly fixed, but I still see complaints about it. Anyways.....)

If I were to get a phone today, I would go for the EVO, or any Android phone with the 1Ghz Snapdragon CPU (the Hero is a 500Mhz process, I think).
Yes, they'll make you pay a $10 fee because its a 4G phone, even though 4G coverage isn't in many places, but your EVO phone will run faster then the Hero even over 3G because of the extra CPU power.

To help reduce that $10 fee, look for a discount offer for Sprint.
I have a 18% discount for my Sprint service through my employer.
But I was also offered a 5% or 10% discount thru my Credit Union. Many people are Credit Union members.
I might even have a scan of that offer stored somewhere.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

BTW,
In November, I received my brand new Hero with a new Sprint contract and paid only $100.
The sign indicated $179, and I figured the discounted prices was because it was about to come down. But not sure that ever happened.

Maybe I was just nice to the Customer Service Rep.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Im in the same boat the OP is. I have been looking at Heros, but also been looking at the Samsung Moment. It looks like hardware wise the Moment is a better device, but there doesnt seem to be much support or hype about it.
Is the Moment truly a better phone than a Hero? Why doesnt the Moment get the same about of love the Hero does?

I'm coming from the TP2 WinMo world, so please forgive my n00bness when it comes to Android phones :)

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

=D>Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the EVO and soon to be released Epic both blow the Hero out of the water performance wise but for someone who has used the Moto Q9c for 2 years like me, the Hero is still an upgrade.

To be honest, I don't need a super multimedia phone like most new phones are. I probably use my phones most for web surfing, either during my commute to and from work, while in the toilet, etc. lol I rarely even make phone calls.

If the Hero is a good platform for web browsing, then that's perfect for me.

Also, I went to a Sprint store to check out the Evo and Hero in person and I personally like the size and feel of the Hero in my hand compared to the Evo which is a bit oversized.

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far in this thread.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Screen size aside the 1ghz processor helps a lot at surfing the web actually :/

If the EVO is too big for you, you can try the Epic, it is a bit fatter due to the keyboard but smaller in size horizontally.

IDk to say if web will render faster on a Hero over a moto Q9c...mostly since the browser is better on Android so it would render some elements that your old phone would not thus slowing down load times.

But with sprint you got 30 days so you can take out a Hero and if it does not meet your criteria return it.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

So from a $40 bill to a $65 bill just for the EVO?

How does the bill go from 40 to 65? What plan do you have that is $40 and how does it jump from 40 to 65? The premium fee is only $10.

Sent from my Evo using Tapatalk

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

me personally.. why would the hero not be a good choice over the evo.. I mean I could care less bout video chat, or hdmi out, or paying 240..extra a year.. etc.. my little hero is fine.. we need something for the middle ground. like a good 3.7 inch android.. like the incredible etc.. that doesnt use 4g etc.. then i would upgrade..

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I have an Evo and love it. I just bought my wife a Hero today to replace her phone. The Hero is basicly a smaller slower evo without some of the options like a front facing cam and 4G, HDMI. I like the Hero alot it really does remind me of the Evo. Its deffinantly got a bit more lag then the Evo though. However I dont quite got this thing fully setup yet. My Evo is running CM6 and its tweaked and lots of bloat removed. So far the Hero is on CM6 I am working on the performance tweaking right now and all the bloat I want has been removed.

In short I like the Hero and I think its still a strong phone. Best buy has it for $100, if you are up for a renewal.

Also Q4 is just around the corner who knows what phones that will bring. But as the saying goes if you wait for the next best thing you will never upgrade... or whatever lol.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Its $10 extra a month thats $120 extra a year so unless you are paying for two a month $240 isnt the correct amount. I think you are getting confused by the people that were complaining its gonna be $240 extra for a two year contract. One thing about the Evo is that at $450 without a contract, thats a cheap phone. I can recal spending $500 plus on a freaking Nextel i880 lol what a brick that was. However if you are buying the phone with a new two year agreement then the out right cost of the phone doesnt really matte lol. I saved money by adding a trust worth friend to me and my wifes line. lol not exactly a great way to negate the $10 extra dollars but it worked.

It is cheap. I pay 160 a month with insurance for a evo, hero and bb curve

BTW, 4g is in Manhattan and Brooklyn right now

Sent from my fast as hell phone that you can only wish you had

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

lol thats what i meant. 240 over 2 years... sorry..

Not downing the evo..etc.. i would love to have one myself,, but atm my hero still fills my needs.. And yes 450 out the door is a great price without contract.. its a far cry from the 550 and up of prev sprint phones..

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

what the heck is up with this section? im gone for 4 months and come back to a ghost town. if you guys don't start talking this section will be archived and that's a damn shame for a phone that isn't a full year old yet. angry9:

I love my hero personally i don't see any reason not to get one.

Sent from my HERO using Tapatalk

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Thats because here. everyone went to the evo.. So whats left is at xda......But i agree for a phone thats not even a year old it sure did die quickly.. but im still happy with my hero.. but mostly stay at xda..etc..

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

also queens Bronx, Staten island, jersey city, and Hoboken

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

+1 from me too. Rooted and tweaked, it's a great phone.

I'm thinking of going to hero from the evo and giving it a try. Just to save money from this $10 fee. I want to see if its anywhere near as smooth as my evo.

Sent from my Evo using Tapatalk

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Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

good luck...I overclocked and flashed cyanogen....made it bearable. Keep your evo

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

Just my 2 cents but I think it depends what you are spending for it. I don't think its worth it for the $150 thru Sprint, and I would have to cough up the extra $50 for the EVO. But I picked one up for my son a week ago for $50 at Radio Shack. I played around with it a little and at $50 I would say its worth it.

That's true, for 50 bucks and then flash cm6 your good to go. The only better deal is the buy one get one Droid on Verizon....

Sent from my fast as hell phone that you can only wish you had

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I agree that it all depends on what you are using it for. Having had a Hero, I loved the phone at the time. It was the first phone I had actually stuck with for more than a month or two. If you are just looking for a good phone to check emails, text etc... I don't think you can go wrong. I know they are fairly cheap to buy outright on the interwebz. Would I go back over $10 a month? Not a chance.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I've had my Moment for over a month now. I actually prefer it over my Touch Pro2. There is much support over at sdxdevelopers just not here. I bought a used one for $60 and it was well worth it. At 800 mHz it runs pretty fast, enough that I have no interest in paying $250+ for an Epic plus the $10/month 4g fee, especially since there's no plans for 4g in my area that I'm aware of. I rarely even use the Qwerty.

Re: Is it still worth it to get a Hero now?
 

I cracked the screen on my TP2, and I'm debating whether to spend the money fixing it or to ditch the TP2 and go with a refurbed Hero ($79 without contract on Sprint website right now).

I'm due for an upgrade rebate but I'm thinking if I grab the Hero and keep the upgrade rebate in tact, I can go for a 2nd generation 4G phone sometime next year.

hmmm... decisions decisions...