Hi,

I am about the buy a Motorola (a Defy if it matters).

All the reviews praise this phone in terms of hardware but as always there is a catch.

Motoblur is seen by many as restrictive and limiting the phone's speed.

I have read elsewhere that if you switch to Launcher Pro the Defy can work much better. Better in terms of speed and the ability to customize what you want on your phone.

The other catch is that the Defy is currently running Android 2.1 so no Flash in the browser, but Motorola has promised an update to 2.2 by June.

So, my question is this: Can Motoblur be 'switched off' or can you 'change' to something such as Launcher Pro without having to 'root' the phone? 

My understanding is Motoblur is an Android overlay which is in some way 'locked in' and not as easy to get rid of as an app. 

Is Root Explorer of any use in this?

I have read a bit about how to 'root' your Android phone and I might do it one day but I am not super keen on risking a bricked phone. 

I am temped by being able to run custom Android 2.2 roms but this non-tech is a but scare of owning a $500 paper weight. I can probably wait to June for the 2.2 update.

Having said that if anybody knows a straight forward, and I mean 'idiot proof' (me being the idiot), guide as to how to root a Defy I would be interested.

Anyways, thanks for your help and being tolerant of my non-tech ways.

Jack