UPDATE: Tested Ultra Lite, AP4, AP5 beta, IRUS Full/VANILLA: lessons and suggestions

[sergiopi]

First of all IMHO they have to be considered BETA, AP4 and IRUS are final Beta, and AP5 is a "Technical Preview" .
I've tested at 192 and 128 DPI and I use the ATHENA as "second" phone, mainly as "mobile computer". I am very happy with my DASH latest 6.1 ROM as empowered PHONE :)

Ultra Lite (Taxist)
Great rom, fast, stable. SPL 3.5

CONS
1) No quickgps
2) No subdisplay
3) No powerpoint
and some other small things
Fix needed: .NET fix (check thread)

Application /Utility Changed
File explorer.... resco file (needs registration)
Images browsing.... resco image (needs registration)
Media Player.... Coreplayer
Start menu.... Quickmenu
Task manager.... Wisbar Lite
SIP..... Vgakey
Comm Manger.... WM6.1 standard

I've added:
HTC home all DPI
Schaps Advanced Config
Xnview (image editor)
Tom Tom
Memmaid
My registred Resco File Manager
Opera 9 Diamond
PocketRAR
PocketCM
.NET fix (check thread)

PRO
1) First time with ozVGA, no problems with my commonly used application, more controls than realvga, no 128 DPI
2) Fastest rom ever seen for ATHENA, lot of storage and memory, a ROM for Professional User!

AP4:
CONS
1) Needs a "special SPL" (3.5), fully contained in the setup file
2) Slow, something to fix, read the thread and AP4 WIKI.
3) Low in Free RAM and resources
4) No way (till now, cmonex is working) to flash back to the HTC original ROM or AP2. AP3 special edition or IRUS SPL 3.5 are the only alternate rom available if you have SPL 3.5

PRO
WM6.1, a very fresh build
Vueflo, the accelerometer turns the screen portrait/landscape just rotating it
Many utilities

IRUS 6.1
CONS
1) opening contacts in 128 DPI you have a blank page, the same bug is in the AP5 beta
2) Older WM6.1 build
3) Needs "tuning": missing HSDPA Icon, date/time in the upper bar too big, powersave disabled for connections, windows media has to be started at 192 DPI, unchecked the option "start in library" and apply ATHENA PRoject windows media player fix, to have it working in all resolutions.
The easiest way to solve many registry fix is is to install schaps advanced config
4) small keyboard

PRO
FAST, faster than AP4, very "responsive", more free memory and system resources,
Doesn't need "special SPL", easy to flashback to the HTC original ROM
There are FULL, LITE, and VANILLA releases

AP5:
It isn't a REAL beta, many things aren't working, Pawel will fix, but in this stage is just a technical preview, slow and buggy, nice DIAMOND graphic.
Promishing... No evaluation

I AM USING...
IRUS LITE, (I don't need many of the full preinstalled appz) plus
Quickmenu 2.7 (rotate screen and MANY utilities, beautiful in 128 DPI)
WKTASK xxx73c (latest, best task manager)
Diamond Commanager (using large blue buttons)
Dinarsoft memmaid
HTC Audio manager
HTC Home all DPIs
Oziexplorer
PocketCM (+ registry tweak to set it as default contact application)
Opera 9 latest build
Pocket Rar
REAL VGA
Resco explorer 2007 (+registry and ftp add in)
Resco keyboard pro (VGA fingertouch Kb)
Schaps advanced config
Today agenda (home screen plugin for planning)
Tom Tom 6
Vjcandela
WM6 remote desktop

Fresh start: Program Memory: total 100,84, in use 37,48, free 63,36
YES, in my testing device I have SPL3.5 (is the only way to test AP4 and AP5) :)

[irus]

First of all IMHO they have to be considered BETA, AP4 and IRUS are final Beta, and AP5 is a "Technical Preview" .
I've tested at 192 and 128 DPI and I use the ATHENA as "second" phone, mainly as "mobile computer". I am very happy with may DASH latest 6.1 ROM as empowered PHONE :)

AP4:
CONS
1) Needs a "special SPL" (3.5), fully contained in the setup file
2) Slow, something to fix, read the thread and AP4 WIKI.
3) Low in Free RAM and resources
4) No way (till now, cmonex is working) to flash back to the HTC original ROM or AP2. AP3 special edition or IRUS SPL 3.5 are the only alternate rom available if you have SPL 3.5

PRO
WM6.1, a very fresh build
Vueflo, the accelerometer turns the screen portrait/landscape just rotating it
Many utilities

IRUS 6.1
CONS
1) opening contacts in 128 DPI you have a blank page, the same bug is in the AP5 beta
2) Older WM6.1 build
3) Needs "tuning": missing HSDPA Icon, date/time in the upper bar too big, powersave disabled for connections, windows media has to be started at 192 DPI, unchecked the option "start in library" and apply ATHENA PRoject windows media player fix, to have it working in all resolutions.
The easiest way to solve many registry fix is is to install schaps advanced config
4) small keyboard

PRO
FAST, faster than AP4, very "responsive", more free memory and system resources,
Doesn't need "special SPL", easy to flashback to the HTC original ROM
There are FULL, LITE, and VANILLA releases

AP5:
It isn't a REAL beta, many things aren't working, Pawel will fix, but in this stage is just a technical preview, slow and buggy, nice DIAMOND graphic.
Promishing... No evaluation

I AM USING...
IRUS LITE, (I don't need many of the full preinstalled appz) plus
Quickmenu 2.7 (rotate screen and MANY utilities, beautiful in 128 DPI)
WKTASK xxx73c (latest, best task manager)
Diamond Commanager (using large blue buttons)
Dinarsoft memmaid
HTC Audio manager
HTC Home all DPIs
Oziexplorer
PocketCM (+ registry tweak to set it as default contact application)
Opera 9 latest build
Pocket Rar
REAL VGA
Resco explorer 2007 (+registry and ftp add in)
Resco keyboard pro (VGA fingertouch Kb)
Shaps advanced config
Today agenda (home screen plugin for planning)
Tom Tom 6
Vjcandela
WM6 remote desktop

Fresh start: Program Memory: total 100,84, in use 37,48, free 63,36
YES, in my testing device I have SPL3.5 (is the only way to test AP4 and AP5) :)

this must of taken you awhile :) ......nicely done

[beginner]

I agree with you. I prefer stability of IRUS -vanilla in my case- but the bluetooth consumption (I have a mbw-150) is a problem.

Irus, could you have a look on this issue? I am not experencied and surely will say an stupid thing, but looks your bluetooth check more often the connection that ap5, and this could justify the high consume.

On the other side this bluetooth conection has more quality with your rom that ap5.

Nice job, irus!!!

[sergiopi]

this must of taken you awhile :) ......nicely done
Thanks, bulding the ROM must of taken you awhile too :)

[kinmisc]

sergiopi,

Thanks for a great preview, this helps a newbie like i am a lot.

Thanks again!

[Brau0303]

I think it is good to have comparisons such as this, it gives people an idea of things they can expect from the various roms available.

Cheers
BR

[sergiopi]

Thanks, updated first post with Ultra Lite comments...

[iscajames]

Sergiopi,
Good overview. I use my Athena to work from on the road for days at a time, so it sounds like Ultralight might be the way for me (currently still on AP3 waiting for the dust to settle on the 6.1 ROMs).
Have you tried Softmaker or Fring with Ultralight please?
Iscajames

[apap]

Sergiopi,

This comparison table is very useful...thanks.

I have also just installed Ultra Lite and can say that while I have only been using it for a day I am very impressed. As you say it seems great for the power user. The speed is phenomenal and stability so far seems good. Program compatibility seems great...all the programs that I use seem to work perfectly.

[sergiopi]

Sergiopi,
Good overview. I use my Athena to work from on the road for days at a time, so it sounds like Ultralight might be the way for me (currently still on AP3 waiting for the dust to settle on the 6.1 ROMs).
Have you tried Softmaker or Fring with Ultralight please?
Iscajames
No, but before checking any sw compatibility, install the .NET fix from the ultra lite thread
Resco explorer or Total Commandar is needed because some rom files have to be replaced. If you try to copy from activesync you will have "error copying file" because the ROM files are write protected
Download total commander, freeware, form here http://www.ghisler.com/pocketpc.htm