Adapt WB1.2

[Ilwrath]

For sure, make a backup copy of the workbench disk.  ;-)

There isn't much to make 1.x look better, though.  Really, you're kind of locked to 4 colors.  Granted, you can choose those 4 colors, to make something look different... But you're not going to be getting PNG icons and 24-bit backdrops out of 1.2.  :-)  There is a program on Aminet to add a line-art (single color) background to workbench 1.2, though.  I remember I used to run it.  :-)

[Ilwrath]

Is that *art* also limited to 4 colors?

Actually, it's limited to a single color.  In other words you can use pen 3 (I think?) and pen 0, which is your background color.  

As far as I know, the old 1.x loadwb only supports 4 pens (colors).  To get more, you'd have to ditch loadwb and run a different workbench.  But I don't think there were any (besides maybe one for a custom graphics card) that were for the 1.x roms.  So, basically, you're screwed.

And I understand I can't use png icons, but I've got a program IconMagic or something. I think I can make WB icons with it...

Probably.  Just remember workbench 1.x can only use the first 4 pens.  The defaults are (pens 0-3)
blue(clear)/white/black/orange, IIRC.

And can I adapt the font of the title bar / menu and the one under the icons?

Yeah, you can change the default pens and fonts with the "Preferences" program, I believe.  (The fonts may need a custom program, which should also be on aminet)

EDIT: upon reading Piru's post (which wasn't here a second ago!) I agree.  The default program only allowed Topaz 8 or Topaz 9.  I still think that there was a hack to allow others, though.  Scour Aminet.  In the really old stuff.  ;-)

[Ilwrath]

It also came with Workbench 1.2 and 1.3

Workbench 1.3 can run fine with a 1.2 ROM.  In fact, Commodore apparently sold refirb'd A500s with this combination.

[Ilwrath]

http://www.aminet.net/util/wb/copperfa.readme

Requires: OS3.x / AGA chipset

That one's not gonna work for ya...  ;-)

I don't remember there being any for WB1.3, but don't quote me on it.  There might be one out there.  I don't remember the 8 color hack someone else mentioned, either, yet I believe them.  ;-)

I'm sure I remember some little prog that might have come with an Amiga magazine that allowed 4-colour backdrops under 1.3 (dunno about 1.2) - IIRC it came with a pic of a butterfly as an example - I'll see if I can find what it was...

Hmm... Maybe.  I just remember that I ran mine with a background color and line-art image.  Maybe it was just because the other two colors didn't look right.  ;-)  I know that no matter what image you choose, you're stuck with the background color you choose in Prefs.

[Ilwrath]

Ok this may be a stupid question. Why is WB1.2 so UGLY

Well, look at the age of WB 1.2.  We're talking about it being developed mostly in the mid 80's.  As Bloodline mentioned, computing was different back then.  And, the standards of what an OS should look like were different, too.  The style of AmigaDOS 1.x fared quite well against Windows 2.0, MacOS 4, and GEOS 1......  Heck, I don't even think Unix X-Windows even had a real window manager, yet!

Is there some kind of shell replasement?

You'd need a replacement for the loadwb file.  As far as I know, there weren't any for 1.x ROMS that didn't require custom graphics hardware.

[Ilwrath]

I'm pretty sure you need to use the CD command in 1.x.  I don't think it was assumed until 2.0 and newer.

But, you can go straight to an assigned directory, or type it longhand.  (ie, "cd C:" and "cd sys:c" will take you to the same place.)