Dopod 838 Pro - Chinese to English?

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I'm new to the forums so please forgive 'newbie' type questions. I have a friend in Hong Kong this week looking for a Hermes based device for me to use in the States. He found the Dopod 838 Pro at a decent price. Only problem, they are out of the English versions. I don't mind not having the manual however he was told that when powered on the device will be in Chinese.

So, is there more to switching this to English then just changing software configuration? Will this need a new ROM image installed? What other downsides are there to buying a chinese based phone and converting it to english? keys? handwriting recognition? Am I better off holding off and looking for the english version?

If someone knows of a place to pick up the English version of the Dopod 838 Pro, please email me.

Thanks
David

You can flash an english (WWE) version and all the software will be in english. Your hardware keyboard will have chinese signs, but it's a standard QWERTY keyboard that can be used also in english without problems. The English manual is on the FTP in pdf format, and handwriting recognition is something handled by the rom (software) so after flahing an english ROM into it you will have a complete english device. If the price is ok, I'd go for it without hesitating. I also recommend you to spend some time reading the wiki:

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...ame=HTC_Hermes

Thanks for the quick response. I'll look for the FTP (new to forums so haven't figured out where to find everything yet). Only concern I have about this, is when turning on the device it will be in Chinese. How do I navigate through the first time setup menus and then get to wherever i need to be to accept the rom upgrade?

Do each of the ROMs posted come with the installation tools as well?

Thanks again
David

Originally Posted by pof

You can flash an english (WWE) version and all the software will be in english. Your hardware keyboard will have chinese signs, but it's a standard QWERTY keyboard that can be used also in english without problems. The English manual is on the FTP in pdf format, and handwriting recognition is something handled by the rom (software) so after flahing an english ROM into it you will have a complete english device. If the price is ok, I'd go for it without hesitating. I also recommend you to spend some time reading the wiki:

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...ame=HTC_Hermes

Originally Posted by SteinyD

Thanks for the quick response. I'll look for the FTP (new to forums so haven't figured out where to find everything yet).

The wiki has almost everything you need to know, and best of all is that you can EDIT the pages and add the information you believe is missing, it's a collaborative tool, so I encourage you (and everyone reading this) to edit the wiki pages and fill them with info, so everyone can benefit.

Start by reading the section "Hermes for beginners" which will help you getting started with your new device:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index..._For_Beginners

Originally Posted by SteinyD

Only concern I have about this, is when turning on the device it will be in Chinese. How do I navigate through the first time setup menus and then get to wherever i need to be to accept the rom upgrade?

You don't even need to turn it on to perform the rom upgrade, just put the device in BOOTLOADER mode (instructions also in the wiki):
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...=Hermes_Resets

Connect the device to your computer using USB cable, and double click on the EXE file to perform ROM upgrade, its a typical windows installer were you just have to click "NEXT, NEXT, NEXT..." several times.

All available ROM upgrades are also in the wiki:

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...ermes_Upgrades
You need to download an WWE (World Wide English) version.

Originally Posted by SteinyD

Do each of the ROMs posted come with the installation tools as well?

Yes, it's a very easy proces which will take about 20minutes.

As I said before, the wiki is your friend, After you've read the "Hermes for Beginners", you can go to the "Upgrading FAQs":
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...mes_UpgradeFAQ

And if you have any problems upgrading, read the "Common upgrading problems" page:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...pgradeProblems

Good luck!

Thanks for the quick and detailed response! It sounds like I'll need to see some prompts on the device ino order to get it to bootloader. As it is in chinese and I don't know chinese at all I'm not sure I'll know how to navigate through it.

I also understand some of the physical keyboard buttons are different than the english version.

My friend in Hong Kong is waiting for the 'thumbs up' to buy the non-english version. I'm still a bit hesitant ... need some convincing today so I can tell him what to do before leaving Hong Kong tomorrow. Unless, someone knows where he can find an english one??!! :)

Thanks
David

Originally Posted by pof

You don't even need to turn it on to perform the rom upgrade, just put the device in BOOTLOADER mode (instructions also in the wiki):
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index...=Hermes_Resets

Connect the device to your computer using USB cable, and double click on the EXE file to perform ROM upgrade, its a typical windows installer were you just have to click "NEXT, NEXT, NEXT..." several times.

Good luck!

Originally Posted by SteinyD

It sounds like I'll need to see some prompts on the device ino order to get it to bootloader. As it is in chinese and I don't know chinese at all I'm not sure I'll know how to navigate through it.

Bootloader is in english in all the devices, the operating system (WM5) language it's just software, it's on the ROM. But when you enter in the bootloader the OS has still not started, so it will be in english even if you buy a chinese, spanish, german or whatever device.

What about the keyboard on the Chinese version of the Dopod Pro?

Originally Posted by pof

Bootloader is in english in all the devices, the operating system (WM5) language it's just software, it's on the ROM. But when you enter in the bootloader the OS has still not started, so it will be in english even if you buy a chinese, spanish, german or whatever device.

Originally Posted by SteinyD

What about the keyboard on the Chinese version of the Dopod Pro?

There's a "search" button in the upper part of this forum, learn to use it

http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=59654

Ask your friend to buy O2 Trion instead in HK... they will flash it for you and the price is much lower than dopod838pro.

Since you live in US... warranty dont matter..right ?