Just try your luck and ask him if he can get a new SG unit for you.

And btw, if you're planning on rooting an SG set, try to stay away from the ones with a build number of 2.73.707.9.

Congratulations new Hero owner. 
Anyways, that particular build (and some other euro ones) is patched from the exploit of loading a customized recovery image. So, you cant flashrec or load the said recovery image through adb. You'll need the facility of the recovery console to flash a ROM (for rooting and installing cool custom ROMs purposes). The only way to get around it is to use a goldcard, a process of bypassing the RUU/SPL CID check, in order to do a downgrade and thus rooting your Hero. The procedure of creating a goldcard can either be exciting and orgasmic or 'holy-crap-this-is-too-technical-for-me', depending on the type of user you are.

Yeah, I know it might sound gibberish now. Get yourself a 2.73.707.9 or some T-Mobile locked set and you'll understand the predicament.

I've tested DiGi's limited edition Prepaid Internet on my Hero. My APN settings was:-

Name : 3gdgnet
Access Number : *99#
Username : <none>
Password : <none>

If you're using other packages, you may need to double check the APN name. All the other settings should be the same. 

Wow Melaka from JB on a bike. 
So you got that Hero from jack1984 right? It's an SG set and it should come with Market. Again, you dont need to go through the goldcard process unless you have a 2.73.707.9 build. Creating the goldcard is just to enable a downgrade from the 2.73.707.9 so that you can flash a customized recovery image. So when you create a goldcard, it doesnt mean that your set is rooted (yet). Rooting occurs when you flash a pre-rooted ROM to your set. For build 2.73.707.9, that cannot happen unless you downgrade the build first through a goldcard.

On the benefits of rooting, it would be easier to see the incentive if you're a Linux user. You cant harness the true potential of the OS without superuser (root) access. And there are apps in the Market that require rooted ROMs. For example, the ShootMe! screenshot application. You'd need root to get it to work. Another obvious reason to root is to allow the usage of custom ROMs. These custom ROMs are usually faster and sleeker than the stock ones from HTC as they have been compiled with various optimizations.

To set APNs:-
Menu>Setting>Wireless Controls>Mobile Network Setting>Access Point Names
Then press the 'menu' button and choose 'New APN'.

Not using ChompSMS but using Handcent. I did this to prevent the double notification. Go to 'All Program' and start the default 'Message' app, press 'Menu' and then "Settings". Scroll down and you'll see 'Notifications'. Uncheck the box. Hope that helps. 

@kamikraze
I left all the other options blank and just filled in the APN name. It worked for DiGi Prepaid Internet. 

download for what exactly?

Bro, try find my post at nexus one thread, i already post setting APN for digi

hope it will help u, coz all the digi setting workin start from my hero, milestone n nexus one..

try this bro,

Name : DiGi Internet
Apn: diginet
Apntype : default
Name : DiGi GPRS
Apn: digiwap
proxy: 203.92.128.188
port: 80
usename : digi
password : digi
apntype :httpproxy

Name : DiGi MMS
apn: digimms
username :mms
password : mms
MMSC : http://mms.digi.com.my/servlets/mms
Mms proxy : 203.92.128.160
mms port : 80
apntype : mms

hope will guide u bro..

You dont really need QMAT to get the reverse string. You can do it here http://hexrev.soaa.me/ . It will create a reverse string and replace the first 2 digits with '00'. You can then proceed to revskill.de and get your goldcard image mailed to you.

In case, you're curious about QMAT, it's now called PSAS. You can download a free version here to play around:-
http://psas.revskills.de/?q=node/6

Did you setup the SDK correctly? 

What OS are you using? Windows? If you something like 'adb is not a recognize command', it's usually because the PATH variable is not setup right.

Maybe you should


first.

Did you install HTC Sync? 

If you are using Windows 7 and connected to the Internet, just plug in your Hero. The OS will install and manage the driver automatically.

Install the drive 1st. The driver comes with HTC Sync software.

Rooting is to get full access to your system as in to be able to access/modify anything under the /

Rooting won't get you paid apps for free. To download paid apps for free. But fret not, we have a name for that though. Pirating.

Rooting will allow you to spoof the Market, so then you will have access to paid apps, which only certain countries have.



And when you have the access to paid apps in the Market, you can buy them with a credit card. Certainly not with RS, MU, MF or what have you :-)

In short, rooting your Android won't get you the paid apps for free. Unfortunately no.

Are you on Win7(64)? 

Apparently there are some issues. I'm not a Win7 user so I cant be of much help. 
But you may find this post helpful:-
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/08/24/w...m-in-windows-7/

As pointed out by Levi, what you need is just the USB drivers to get the adb working.

Just wanna add a bit about rooting. It will enable you to install applications to your SD card instead of your phone memory.

Bro if your adb is working then it should be no problem applying the RUU. If you type 'adb devices' and get a serial number, that means the USB driver is working properly (regardless whether HTC Sync is 'disconnected' or otherwise. I dont really pay any attention on what HTC Sync has to say ).

did u try a restart of ur phone?
sometimes is the sync detection services got ended by the task manager program.
try to restart it and plug in again.