[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro Software Upgrading] simon_darley:
Info to find info about your device.

ooooh dude, you got a lot to learn....

I will try to answer your questions.

I have done nothing to except install some apps on it.

THIS IS GONNA CHANGE, THE MORE YOU HOLD IT, THE MORE YOU INSTALL, THE MORE YOU INSTALL THE MORE YOU REALISE YOU DIDNT REALLY NEED IT.

I know there are rom upgrades available

THEY ALL HAVE AN UPGRADE RELEASED NOW.

What is the best one to go for

I THINK IMATE OR O2 ARE GENERALLY ACCEPTED. I USE IMATE. IF YOU CHANGE FROM ORANGE, YOU WILL BREACH YOUR WARRANTY.

what exactly does it change?

IT SHOULD SPEED UP THE ENTIRE OPERATION OF THE DEVICE, SPEED UP THE ANSWERING OF THE PHONE, AND SPEED UP THE SCREEN THE ROTATION, IN FACT, EVERYTHING SHOULD BE FASTER, SMOOTHER AND MORE EFFICIENT.

THE RELEASE ACTUALLY PROVIDES PUSH EMAIL, SUCH THAT YOU CAN HAVE ALL OF YOUR EMAIL PUSHED/SENT TO YOUR DEVICE, RATHER THAN HAVING TO PRESS SEND/RECEIVE TO PULL THE EMAIL TO YOUR DEVICE.

BATTERY, BLUETOOTH AND RECEPTION RANGE IS ALSO BETTER.

speed of answering,

IT WILL SPEED UP YOUR ANSWERING, BUT THE BEST WAY IS TO DISABLE THE PHONE PAD THAT USES THE VIDEO CALLING FUNCTION, IF YOU DONT USE IT, DO A SEARCH AND CHANGE THE REGISTRY TO DISABLE THE PHONE PAD THAT USES VIDEO CALLS. IF YOU DO USE THE PHONE VIDEO CALL FEATURE, THEN THERE ISNT MUCH YOU CAN DO.

which does seem slow on my M5000, especially if it's closed as I have to wait for the screen to come on, then rotate, and finally bring up the phone app before I can talk, will it help this?

NOT IF YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE SO MANY STEPS, WHY DONT YOU JUST PRESS THE GREEN BUTTON ON THE HINGE WITHOUT OPENING THE DEVICE. OR ARE YOU CALL SCREENER? I ANSWER ALL MINE IF I CAN, SO I DONT NEED TO SEE WHO IS CALLING.

OTHER OPTION, LEAVE IT OPEN ALL THE TIME, AND DONT CLAM CLOSE IT.

ALSO, EXTEND THE PERIOD OF YOUR RINGING, SO THAT INSTEAD OF 10 SECONDS, EXTEND IT TO 30 SECONDS, IT WILL GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO ANSWER IT.

What does the radio upgrade do? Is it a valuable upgrade or just a slight performance increase?

IT IMPROVES RECEPTION, RANGE, QUALITY, AND SPEED OF ANSWERING. THE NEW ROM HAS THIS UPGRADE ANYWAY.

If I do any rom upgrades, will I need to do a complete re-install and setup from scratch?

YES, EVERYTHING IS TOTALLY WIPED OUT, SO SYNC YOUR DATA, COPY EVERYTHING TO AN SD CARD, AND NUKE IT TO START AGAIN.

What other things should I consider doing to generally increase the whole smartphone thing?

READ THE FORUMS, MONITOR THE POSTS, LURK AROUND FOR A WHILE. READ THESE POSTS:

get some of these:

www.spbsoftwarehouse.com particularly the backup

www.resco.net particularly the explorer

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=41968&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32698&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=28343&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=28127&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=28022&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=29677&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=31331&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=31911&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=30460&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=32262&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=34838&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=37067&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=38253&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=38192&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=218089&highlight=#218089

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=39961&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=41452&highlight=

http://xdaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=44638&highlight=

This should give you enough reading, enough background knowledge, enough to be dangerous, but not enough for life to collapse around you.

If you need any more information in relation to your questions, ask.