[Q] Future owner, need some help setting up - Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini

EDIT: This is for X10 Mini Pro
Greets
So, I've looked around for a phone and while I can get other phones like the LG P500 (Android 2.2 capable) or the Galaxy 550 (cheaper 2.1), the keyboard, the whole design and all, it has gotten to me. I have a low-end touch only and it really annoys me to type with a touch keyboard.
So I've been looking around for all the goodies around and saving all the files on my PC, all organized and ready to be used. So far I've taken care of:
- Rooting the phone;
- Installing Link2SD, from what I read, 2.1 can't move an app to the SD;
- Installing Skyfire 4 so flash videos work.
Now, slade has a fully functional ROM out. How beneficial would it be to ditch the phone's 2.1 for this or any other ROM?
I've been keeping my eye on the CM7 ROM as it seems to be 2.1, right?
So, long post short, what else do you recommend and how beneficial is it for me to dive into the custom ROM environment?
Thanks
Az

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It depends on ultimately what you want.
CM7
Fast
Camera LED doesn't work
CM6
Decently Fast
Most everything works (except Google Voice SIP and Angry Birds)
Custom ROM also doesn't have the SE SMS issue when a draft exists, it crashes SMS with the keyboard out.

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angry birds works on both cm6/7
also sms app doesnt crash on cm6 when keyboard is out.
which version are you using?

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Well, from slade's CM7 post, the camera is stuck at 0.3MP, right? I mean, I will be paying for a 5MP one. Is it fully working on CM6? Cuz I don't really care for the radio or ANT, will not be using those for sure.

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Yes cm7 camera is still bad. In cm6 which is froyo btw it will work.
Sent from my U20i using XDA Premium App

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Your latest CM6 ROM is flawless, CM7 has bad camera, that's pretty much all I'd notice. So installing CM6 will give me 2.2. I guess that pretty much closes the deal, I guess I'll take your hybrid ROM and wait till CM7 is complete. CM7 is 2.3?

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Slade CM6's ROMs (there's 2 flavours) are the most suitable for daily use IMHO.
The camera issues in CM7 prevent it from being a daily use ROM for me.
Almost everything is working perfectly in CM6... only bug i've found is when playing music for a while, sometimes phone crashes.
The great thing about playing with dev roms is that you can always revert back to your stock 2.1 backup (or any other backup) if you don't like it. So give it a try, if you don't like it, just revert back... takes a couple of minutes

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The backing up of the original ROM, is it with xRecovery?

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tcp.Az said:
The backing up of the original ROM, is it with xRecovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, install xrecovery... backup your current install, then play with dev roms until you're happy.... if you don't like whatever you've installed, then restore your backup with xrecovery again

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Ok, thank you both, now, on to get the little thing!

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Rzykerz said:
It depends on ultimately what you want.
CM7
Fast
Camera LED doesn't work
CM6
Decently Fast
Most everything works (except Google Voice SIP and Angry Birds)
Custom ROM also doesn't have the SE SMS issue when a draft exists, it crashes SMS with the keyboard out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Angry bird working awesome for Me, and sms tooo

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go get it! worth every penny. there are many roms that will surely satisfy your requirements.

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Rzykerz said:
It depends on ultimately what you want.
CM7
Fast
Camera LED doesn't work
CM6
Decently Fast
Most everything works (except Google Voice SIP and Angry Birds)
Custom ROM also doesn't have the SE SMS issue when a draft exists, it crashes SMS with the keyboard out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tryed only Slade's CM6 V2 rom and found that the camera performance is noteably inferior to the stock rom. I ll be happy if proven wrong.

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tcp.Az said:
EDIT: This is for X10 Mini Pro
Greets
So, I've looked around for a phone and while I can get other phones like the LG P500 (Android 2.2 capable) or the Galaxy 550 (cheaper 2.1), the keyboard, the whole design and all, it has gotten to me. I have a low-end touch only and it really annoys me to type with a touch keyboard.
Az
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, my previous phone was an HTC HD2 which I ran with an android nand rom. Although it was quite a machine I find myself happier with the mini pro, the key points being the hardware keyboard, better 5mp camera and better music quality. Low points are the tiny screen and that the mini pro is slower and also the inferior battery life. Still though, I dont regret the change one bit

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I mean, maybe better phones feel better, but I guess I am one of those people that won't feel good without the physical keys. I've seen some differences in prices from shop to shop, I found it a little weird. Like, 20€. But it's okay.
And MT is being worked on, I think awsomeness is on it's way

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ickata said:
Well, my previous phone was an HTC HD2 ... I find myself happier with the mini pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just notice that Mini Pro's keyboard perhaps seems to be too small but in real life it is flawlessly useable.
My second note is that: is OK for English only - special characters are pain in the @ss.
Third notice is that: HW keyboard usable only when You using phone "horizontally". In practice I using phone in "vertical" position and if want to type, I must to slide-out HW keyboard, type fast, then close HW keyboard and continue work in this comfort orientation.
If You type much SMS or e-mail, HW keyboard is a _must_. If You browse web-sites often in 320X240 and every time You visit totally different places, typing fast also would be good - but this is real?
For me, my any other uses in "vertical" orientation - so I almost no using HS keybouard

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Considering I am Portuguese... I've looked around, special characters really are a pain, but I'll find a way.
I think I can combine horizontal and vertical, I don't really mind the little screen. Internet will be seldomly used, MSN and Skype mostly.