Difference Between Rooted v. Non-Rooted Ermine

[hilaryfrompa]

I thought upgrading to Ermine was the same as rooting. Could someone post a link to the benefits of rooting, and also--if you're afraid to root it by yourself--can you pay someone to root it for you? Thank you.

[lorenzoens]

Rooting is gaining Administrator access to your device, so that you can see protected folders, and modify contents that normally you would only be able to display, for security reasons.
Rooting with Z4Root is very simple, but knowing what to do after that is not so simple. So

I would add two questions to this thread:

what you better NOT TRY after rooting your device?

and

if I'd ever run a Golden system revert, would my system still be rooted after that?

[hilaryfrompa]

Originally Posted by lorenzoens

So I would add two questions to this thread:

what you better NOT TRY after rooting your device?

and

if I'd ever run a Golden system revert, would my system still be rooted after that?

Consider them asked!

[MissileMax]

Rooting is required to add Google Market and Live Wallpaper because you need to be able to mount the System folder with write permissions to install those Apps. If you can live without those, I see no reason to root. With Amazon, there is even less of a reason. (Although Amazon adds DRM to all the apps, so once you get apps from them, you are stuck with them forever...even free apps.)
Ermine is Android 2.2, where Dingo is 1.6, so updating to Ermine gives you access to any apps that require Android 2.2. EnTourage also fixed a few bugs with Ermine. Android 2.2 (called Froyo) improved batttery life, and was generally considered faster than 1.6.
On the full sized edge (which I do not have) I understand that Ermine might have introduced a few bugs. I have a Pocket eDGe and updated to Ermine and Rooted ten minutes after taking it out of the box so my Dingo/non-rooted experience is minimal. I can say I have been going 4 weeks with no problems.

If you are rooted, be sure to follow and instructions exactly when adding any features that require root. The reason we don't have root out of the box, is so we don't mess up our eDGes! Another advantage to not rooting is you are safer from poorly written programs and malware (viruses).

In summary: Dingo is android 1.6, Ermine is 2.2. Both can be rooted. Rooting gives you permission to modify any file or folder on your device.

[lorenzoens]

For what I've seen in this first day of using a rooted-edge, after 8 months of non rooted usage, it was slightly better before the rooting process, because of occasional weird responsivity of the commands, never happened to me before rooting.

Pressing the "back" hardware button, on the rooted sometimes causes a random exit from the application, other times just a step back. Before the rooting, the button would only cause a step back.

Even the "slide to unlock" command has performed better before than the rooting. Now it happens sometimes that the slide won't move at the first press.

I did not install any new app since the Root.

[vicinc]

i doubt that.

[MasterTec]

Originally Posted by vicinc

i doubt that.

me too.. I can't see how rooting would possibly cause any of those things to change as described.

[MissileMax]

Lorenzoens,

As a long time programmer, and novice Android developer, I can't see how rooting would cause those symptoms on its own. I would be looking at Avast or Lookout antivirus. Something else must be different? Usually developers are testing on emulators and rooted devices anyway so rooted devices are typically less buggy, not more. Can you give a good example of the back button behavior?

[hilaryfrompa]

Originally Posted by lorenzoens

For what I've seen in this first day of using a rooted-edge, after 8 months of non rooted usage, it was slightly better before the rooting process, because of occasional weird responsivity of the commands, never happened to me before rooting.

Pressing the "back" hardware button, on the rooted sometimes causes a random exit from the application, other times just a step back. Before the rooting, the button would only cause a step back.

Even the "slide to unlock" command has performed better before than the rooting. Now it happens sometimes that the slide won't move at the first press.

I did not install any new app since the Root.

I am glad I read this. I understand the replies that are reassuring/questioning you, but I'm nevertheless glad I haven't tried it.

[vicinc]

I have 2 pes.
one rooted and one not.
same hardware, software.
both run at same speed.
saying rooting is slowing down, is rubbish.
however rooting is personal preference!

[vicinc]

btw z4root is very temperamental on edges. I remember mine did not like it.
i suggest use rooted ermine via pablo rc3 update (for pe only).
works gr8

[hilaryfrompa]

Vicinc, I just installed Golden Allmine, and now my PE is officially a Nexus. So maybe it's too late to root, and with the access to the market, I don't think I'm interested. I'd like to know what the warning about using the Gingerbread keyboard meant, though. It said something like "input is not private," or something like that. That's the only thing that went wrong...besides my taking out the SD card without dismounting it.

THANKS EVERYONE! You're all fantastic!!!

[Yivi]

[vicinc]

golden is already rooted. installing any keyboard is giving you warnings a keyboard program can capture your keys, this is why I like market on my device as the software is verified and from trusted source.
I can not use amazon market in uk, so for me the google market is the only option.

[vicinc]

btw,is you PE slower after Golden rc3 (rooted)? No, actually due to partioning scheme I believe is faster.