Sprint HTC Hero now on sale to everyone

Sure, you've been able to get it a little early in one way or another, but the Sprint HTC Hero officially launched today, which means a second US carrier is now selling an Android device. High five. Now, is anyone spending the $179 ($479 off-contract)? And Sprint customers, we have to ask: Hero or Pre?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[CalBearGuy Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:06PM]

Cool. I think this is a nice phone! I wish i could get on VZW. Isnt there a way to get VZW to add the phones esn into the database and program it to work on VZW? I though they are becoming open and allowing any device that fits with their standards on their network!?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:11PM]

@ dave911la

This will be on Verizon next month.

[uwaga dude Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:21PM]

Quantum, PLEASE for the love of god stop sending us those links. We all know you wrote both, even though the Zune HD has fuck all to do with the HTC Hero. Have you ever considered the fact that some people don't care about 50,000 apps and would rather have an open source phone? Some people might want less than 30% of their calls dropped? Some people just flat out hate Apple?

[JOBN Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:46PM]

Some people like keyboards...with actual, physical buttons....I realize the hero doesn't have that, if it did I would probably be interested.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:44PM]

@Quantum,Your head is soo far up Steve's ass you have no idea what's going on in the real world. First off iphones sales are declining as the new android devices are coming, second Android market is growing exponentially while iphone market is declining. And for all you apple fan boys Apple is not in the lead, it never was, it is all an illusion backed up by the hype of SJ worshippers especially in the states yet you have no idea what's going on over seas what kinda phones they have and how much better they are, hardware, software, and in usability wise. And uwaga dude is right, some of dont want dropped calls, some of us want open source so we can do whatever we want with the phone, instead of paying 200-600 for the phone thats not even yours. Basically your just renting it from Steve and do what he says, and if Steve says bend over you bend over...

[MONKEY Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:54PM]

Quantum -

It's people like you that make others hate Apple customers. Personally, I find some Apple products to be great. I just can't f*cking stand all the people like you that buy them.

[MJGAMER 1991 XBL Posted Oct 11th 2009 4:43PM]

@Annoying Poster

Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world (by killing Steve's minions, or slaying the dragon himself)?

[JeremyBenthem Posted Oct 11th 2009 5:32PM]

unlike Verizon, I like Sprint's redesigned cases, often better than the manufacturer's original

[felipedeeznuts Posted Oct 11th 2009 10:57PM]

@Monkey

You said that so perfectly and concisely, I just have a few things to ad. I have an iPhone and although I love it, I acknowledge it's glaring incompetencies. I think people who are on Steve Jobs nuts make life difficult for everyone. Phones that deserve just as much attention, like the Leo and the Hero don't get anywhere near enough attention when jizz-on-steve-modo and other like blogs only have eyes for you-know-who's nuts. When SJ is constantly getting his nuts rubbed by the fanboy community, where is the impetus to make the next iPhone the evolutionary leap the original was? There is none, as evidenced by the last two generations (Wow you added 3G support and a faster processor).

[Dshark Posted Oct 12th 2009 2:00AM]

@quantum Seriously dude? Apple is soooo slacking. They made virtually no improvements on the iphone lately. Android is really climbing.

[spacemanspork Posted Oct 13th 2009 12:15PM]

@MONKEY -

Just wanted to say thanks for saying that. That's how I always felt.

Apple? GREAT products. They're of course not without flaws (one being their overly controlling "you like what i give you and don't talk back" attitude), but overall they're almost always great user experiences.

Fan boys? I hate them with a passion. Almost hate them enough to hate Apple. It's REALLY close to that point actually. It's absurd to me how fanatic some fan boys are. And the sad thing is most of the Apple hate comes from people who don't really hate Apple, they hate the fan boys. I find myself wanting to bash Apple all the time (and I think Apple products are mostly great) just because I want to punch the fan boys in the face.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 14th 2009 2:43PM]

Sprint has a roaming agreement with Verizon... I don't know what Sprint is like where you are, but here it is great. The unlimited plans make it that much better. Loving my Hero so far.

[mbg19 Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:06PM]

WOOOHHH Go Android!!!!

[CRA1G Posted Oct 11th 2009 4:47PM]

Gonna stick with my Pre for the time being, but I'm just REALLY happy we have tons of great choices now.

And it's good to see this phone has some heft...nice for chucking at an iPhone fanboy if need be.

[seanbob91 Posted Oct 12th 2009 6:51PM]

Yeah I'll probably stick with my Pre too. With this now, and if the Sprint gets the HTCHD2, it's going to kick ass!

[Engadgeter Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:06PM]

I really like how sprint kept the name of the hero, "hero" instead of renaming it something stupid....

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:10PM]

Agree.

[hondamx525 Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:53PM]

Myhero 4g

[HotBBQ Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:13PM]

Gyro?

[avengeryarr Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:07PM]

It's a shame Sprint had to make it so ugly.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:09PM]

it looks better chromed and chin-less

[z0phi3l Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:15PM]

@ gbeastiekid

WRONG!!!

The original look of the Hero is MUCH better that this wannabe MyTouch look it has now

[table Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:20PM]

@z0phi3l

Wrong. It's a matter of personal taste. There really is no right or wrong. I personally like the new model better, but if i had the chance, I'd have no problems snatching the original either.

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:24PM]

I support the claim that it looks better without the chin. Although, I heard the chinned Hero just got a nice contract for a Gillette commercial.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 9:05PM]

I've got a Pre now and I just ordered this phone i'll have it on monday and try it out for a week or so to decide which i want to keep. But this phone looks fantastic!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:08PM]

Pre.
I love Android, hate the sense lag.

[plbelanger Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:09PM]

There is no lag with the new firmware

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:31PM]

I have had a PRE and it lagged. The Hero so far has not lagged for me and i also like the fact that i don't have to carry a charger in my back pocket like i did for PRE. Also for any body looking to buy a PRE. Mine is on EBAY 150379609677. LMAO. You can miss out on the experience but i am loving every minute of it.

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:14PM]

You can watch the lag reviews Phonedog DroidDog did on the Hero:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oVwFl-PvvY

Pretty useful I think - He does have the phone everyone will be buying from the store. I don't think from the video the lag is that bad...

[JONNNathannn Posted Oct 11th 2009 3:16PM]

I tried the Hero in the Sprint store because I either want the Hero or Moment and it wasn't laggy in the calender or anything but it was in the browser, especially pinch to zoom...that was very messy.

I decided on the Moment because I want a real keyboard and prefer its design and processor.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:08PM]

got mine friday at bb. thank you for someone who posted the coupon early so i could print it and get the phone

what a great phone!

[geekthree Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:08PM]

Everyone != America

[Templarian Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:10PM]

Since when?

Also yea, love my Pre, but this looks like a very nice Android device. Should sell pretty well.

[drumwiz86 Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:51PM]

maybe not but

America = everyone relevant

[theprophet84 Posted Oct 12th 2009 1:15AM]

America== CDMA

[zap2 Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:22PM]

Its on sale to anyone, with the right amount of cash...just happens to only be in America, but if you want to jump on a plane, someone could buy it.(Not much reason unless you live in an area with a CDMA network, but hey, no one is stopping ya) But the GSM Hero has already been for sale to many people in other nations.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:09PM]

i haven't played with the hero yet so i can't tell you if i would pick the hero or the pre but all i can say is thumbs up to more non-windows mobile smart phones on sprint!

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:09PM]

You can be my Hero baby
You can kiss away the pain
I will text with you forever
You can take my breath away

(Just to give it a spin from my Bonnie Tyler Hero remake :P )

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:48PM]

Don't you mean Enrique Iglesias? Bonnie Tyler was "Holding out for a Hero".

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:51PM]

I did "Holding out for a Hero" on the Hero Best Buy post.

I need a Hero
I’m holding out for a Hero ‘til the end of the night
It’s gotta be Android
And it’s gotta be fast
And it's gotta be fresh from the box
I need a Hero
I’m holding out for a Hero ‘til the morning light
With Donut for be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And it’s gotta be larger than life

I really like this phone. :D

[Processing Posted Oct 11th 2009 5:29PM]

You didn't do "I Need A Hero" by SKILLET. =D

[Ioannis Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:24PM]

Since we are at it...

And then a Hero comes along,
with the Android running on
and the cash you left aside,
now you know you can deny it.
So when you feel your phone is old
look inside a local store
and you'll finally see the truth,
that the Hero is for you.

[TikiTeko Posted Oct 11th 2009 7:26PM]

@iaoni What song is that one?

[barry99705 Posted Oct 11th 2009 8:56PM]

@tikiteko

Do you remember the early 80's tv show that was the theme for??

[Ioannis Posted Oct 12th 2009 6:44AM]

@tikiteko

what I did is Mariah Carey "Hero"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLC73DB7jE8

[Jehr Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:10PM]

Can we get one of these for Verizon with a snapdragon?

Then I'd be singing winner winner chicken dinner.

[mbg19 Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:11PM]

Make one for sprint with snapdragon and a keyboard and a headphone jack,that would orgasmic lol

[Brak Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:49PM]

it has a headphone jack
and the keyboard is great for a soft keyboard (not a huge fan of softies)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:11PM]

I currently have a Pre and have been really disappointed! I'm looking to switch to the Hero on monday!

[crazytuga Posted Oct 11th 2009 2:11PM]

hero or pre ??? ,beer beer beer ,mug ,mug,mug ,pre,pre,pre
hero doesnt fit ,hero doesnt fit hero doesnt fit

i chooooooossssssseeeeese iphone....