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To root or not to root that is the question

GJTRUEFAITH

GJTRUEFAITH

Newbie
Right now I'm just pondering wether I'm going to root my Samsung Galaxy S II (Virgin Mobile ). So friends give me a bit of help convice me perhaps. To root or not to root: what are the main benefits. Why should or shouldn't I root. I already know bricking the phone is a possibility, voiding the warranty another. So people what's all the fuss about rooting. Why is it so popular. I expect some serious answers and am challenging you all to convince a skeptic. ;)
 
Rooting is potentially very dangerous, especially if you don't know what you're doing. I think a lot on uninformed, novice users choose to root on the assumption that it will give their phone super powers but really lack the understanding to fully utilize the abilities root gives them. As a result, they're more likely to break something and brick their phone or cause instability or other issues.

The main benefits I see in rooting, from the standpoint of an average user it the ability to control app permissions, with help from apps like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lbe.security.lite, and the ability to block ads with apps like https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.adaway. There are great apps for helping to recover your phone when it's been lost or stolen as well, and apps that you can use to back up data on your phone, the best of which is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup

THen there are the countless possibilites for customization and tweaking to get the most power and speed from your phone, and the ability to install custom roms and kernels and recoveries which open up even further possibilities.

So the short version is; a rooted phone is more open to customization and enhancement, but also more vulnerable. If you just want to watch youtube videos post on facebook and play angry birds, I wouldn't bother. If you want to get the most out of your phone and aren't averse to getting your hands dirty and potentially bricking your phone, go for it.
 
It will void your warranty yeah, but as long as you follow the root guide to a t, you shouldn't even be concerned with your phone becoming a brick.

The warranty becoming void is really your only downside to rooting. And if it needs to be repaired, it's fairly simple to unroot and it won't be water marked like htc devices.

To me, the advantages of being a root user are obviously having access to root only apps. My favorite here would be titanium backup. Which gives you the option to back up/restore apps/system apps with data.

Rom flashing, huge advantage here ;). Some aren't into rom flashing, but if your big on customization and tweaking, you'll fit in rather well here.

But here is one down side, if you've never been rooted, if you intend to flash roms and such, you need to read and research on how to do so. Otherwise if you flash something not intended for the Galaxy S2 4G, there's a chance you could soft brick (recoverable), or worse which could end up in a hard brick.

Hope this helps you out some. :)
 
I you I adept at learning tech stuff quickly & always do my research first reading every possible blog article instructions ect... before I attempt anything.
No angry birds for me I have 3 cats lol customization speed and security are whats on my mind. Thank-you for your honest amswer. :)
Sent from my SPH-D710VMUB
 
Rooting doesn't void your warranty by itself, derping your phone not knowing what you're doing will because it's obviously not a manufacturer defect that messed things up, I've returned over a half dozen phones to Virgin for hardware issues and every single one was rooted and rommed and never once had a problem. :D
OB
 
No question here. Root. Go for it especially because you're on Virgin Mobile and they could care less what you did with the phone before you returned it (their warranty policy is great).
 
Yeah, people always say root will void your warranty but I've never actually read about anybody being turned away because of it. It's like people being afraid to tear that tag off their mattress that says 'DO NOT REMOVE'.
 
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