BetterWB-like enhancements for OS2.1?

[Tenacious]

I like BetterWB, but, I like OS2.1 for ECS Amigas (Don't want to run OS3.1 in all of them ).  I might not be the only one.  What are your favorite enhancements for OS2.1?

C:?
Devs:?
L:?
Libs:?
System?
Tools?
Utilities?
Other?

[Gulliver]

I am just curious of the reasons you have to avoid 3.1

Yo can get 3.1 for almost nothig, burn your own rom or even softkick it, and it has a lot of enhancement and bugfixes.

[Tenacious]

Hi Gulliver

I'm not avoiding 3.1, most of my machines run KS3.1;).  OTOH, I'm reluctant to abandon all examples of Amiga OS evolution, especially OS2.1 and 1.3.

I've read many times about how superior 3.1 is over 2.1.  Being a simple user (not a degree'd computer scientist), I'm often hard pressed to confirm that it really is a huge improvement, especially on older OCS and ECS Amigas.  Some off-the-cuff specifics, the Datatypes scheme  is OK on a fast Amiga, but dog-slow on lower spec models. I frequently use my favorite datatype-unaware utilities for speed, even on the 060 model.   Also, the palette prefs on 3.1 seem like a leap backward compared to OS2.1.   Someone wrote a wonderful animated busy pointer that I cannot get working with KS3.1.   Etcetera.

Frankly, I have a great respect for the one-stop compilation of updates and improvements you have organized for OS3.1.  You did an excellent and thorough job!  Whenever I reformat and reload the OS, your BetterWB is the first enhancement I install.

My intent here was to explore what updates could be applied to OS2.1.  I think it is worth having a 'living' example that can read long-file-name CDs, swap icon images without renaming, etc.  If there are bug-fixed libraries and device handlers for OS2.1 too, I was hoping folks would share them in this thread.

[itix]

I am just curious of the reasons you have to avoid 3.1

Yo can get 3.1 for almost nothig, burn your own rom or even softkick it, and it has a lot of enhancement and bugfixes.

Actually improvements in OS 3 are rather small and you can save some precious memory with older versions.

[Brian]

I like BetterWB, but, I like OS2.1 for ECS Amigas (Don't want to run OS3.1 in all of them ).  I might not be the only one.  What are your favorite enhancements for OS2.1?

C:?
Devs:?
L:?
Libs:?
System?
Tools?
Utilities?
Other?

I think I get your thinking. I usually go with AGA machines and 3.1 or 3.9 but have some A600 that I tend to use just KS2 and WB2.1 on and some A500 that I keep WB1.3 on, not because I prefer the older OS but I keep them for history and want the right OS to go with that.

I guess MagicWB and Nickprefs isn't what you're thinking (talking about BetterWB).

[Dr. Chef]

You could install Magic Workbench.

http://guide.abime.net/wb2.x/chap3.htm

[Gulliver]

I've read many times about how superior 3.1 is over 2.1.  Being a simple user (not a degree'd computer scientist), I'm often hard pressed to confirm that it really is a huge improvement, especially on older OCS and ECS Amigas.  Some off-the-cuff specifics, the Datatypes scheme  is OK on a fast Amiga, but dog-slow on lower spec models. I frequently use my favorite datatype-unaware utilities for speed, even on the 060 model.   Also, the palette prefs on 3.1 seem like a leap backward compared to OS2.1.   Someone wrote a wonderful animated busy pointer that I cannot get working with KS3.1.   Etcetera.

My intent here was to explore what updates could be applied to OS2.1.  I think it is worth having a 'living' example that can read long-file-name CDs, swap icon images without renaming, etc.  If there are bug-fixed libraries and device handlers for OS2.1 too, I was hoping folks would share them in this thread.

The way you explain it, sounds pretty reasonable.

If only I could manage to get a little more free time before Christmas I may give this concept a go.

Suggestion: Why dont you start with BetterWB as a basis and then remove/replace components that are not 2.1 compatible? It shouldnt be that hard, and I can help you if you run into trouble.

Off topic: I thought on doing an enhanced AmigaOS 1.3.x version just for the fun, hard retro feeling and simplicity it delivers. But if that happens, it will surely be next year.

[Gulliver]

Actually improvements in OS 3 are rather small and you can save some precious memory with older versions.

I dont think the 2.x to 3.x update is minor.

Just take a look at this:
http://www.gregdonner.org/workbench/wb_30chg.lha

and add

http://www.gregdonner.org/workbench/wb_31chg.lha

[itix]

I dont think the 2.x to 3.x update is minor.

Just take a look at this:
http://www.gregdonner.org/workbench/wb_30chg.lha

and add

http://www.gregdonner.org/workbench/wb_31chg.lha

There are very little bug fixes and even less new features relevant to users. Developers may be happy that there are new functions to reduce code size. Commodore had very small team working on the software.

[Brian]

Just for the heck of it I made one of my A600 with ACA630, kickswitch (2.05 and 3.1) and several other hardware upgrades into a mix of AmigaOS having WB1.3, WB2.1, OS3.1 and OS3.9 installed on seperat partitions and a custom Startup-Seq to highlight best compatible OS depending on CPU/KS in use. Still haven't installed my Kickswitch supporting 3 ROM's as I have to get my custom 1.3 ROM with A600 scsi.dev Image splitted and burnt to two ROMs for the KS switch so currently WB1.3 runs under KS2 and have included a temporary softkick option for KS1.3.

Anyway to make it more divert I chuse to run WB2.1 in 4 colors, OS3.1 in 8 colors MagicWB and OS3.9 with GlowIcons. It uses the standard Icons for the respective system partitions and for the shared Work and Games partitions I use custom Icons based on MagicWB but palette edited so the colors don't get all screwed up in 4 colors (meening light gray and brown have to go), I then converted 3.9 glowicons to newicons and added that tooltype to the edited icons. With WB1.3's inverted palette there's nothing much to do about the look, it will get messed up but the result under WB2.1 is a 4 color MagicWB look, almost normal MagicWB look under OS3.1 and GlowIcons look under OS3.9.

[rdolores]

Classic Workbench has an Amiga OS2.1 build with updates:  classicwb.abime.net

It has a standard blue color scheme or custom "Green Alien" color scheme.  It was designed for a Hi-Res (non-interlaced) screen.  Besides 2.0/2.1 updates, it also has an unregistered WHLoad installed on it.  Could be a good base for a OS2.1 build.

I like BetterWB, but, I like OS2.1 for ECS Amigas (Don't want to run OS3.1 in all of them ).  I might not be the only one.  What are your favorite enhancements for OS2.1?

C:?
Devs:?
L:?
Libs:?
System?
Tools?
Utilities?
Other?

[Tenacious]

If only I could manage to get a little more free time before Christmas I may give this concept a go.

Suggestion: Why dont you start with BetterWB as a basis and then remove/replace components that are not 2.1 compatible? It shouldnt be that hard, and I can help you if you run into trouble.

It's exciting to think what the results of this might be.  Right now, I'm in the same boat as you, this next month is a very busy time.  However, I have an A2000 with nothing more than OS2.1 on the HD, ready to go.

Perhaps the most obvious addition to 3.1 for the average user is Multiview.  Commodore apparently promoted it as the default viewer using datatypes (instead of MuchMore, Viewtek, etc).  There are a handful of 2.1-compatible multiview clones on Aminet.  I'm going to begin by trying each of those.

I have another empty A2000 with 3.1 and BetterWB installed.  It shouldn't be hard to pull various BetterWB components and try them under 2.1.  

[Tenacious]

I guess MagicWB and Nickprefs isn't what you're thinking (talking about BetterWB).

Ultimately, I do want MagicWB and Nickprefs compatibility and the option to use them in my Amiga.  

I'm simply wanting to explore ways to make everything 'under the hood' the best it can be (bug-fixed), a living version of 2.1 that will be viable into the future.  An alternative to the 3.1 path (datatypes, etc) for OCS and ECS Amigas.

In the end, OS2.1 might be the preferred 'leaner' OS for modest 500s and 600s.

[Gulliver]

I did a clean hard drive install of both AmigaOS 2.1 and 3.1.

You only save a little bit less than 5KB memory with 2.1 but you will loose all bugfixes and enhancements I mentioned before.

It seems it is definately not worth the downgrade.

[Tenacious]

I did a clean hard drive install of both AmigaOS 2.1 and 3.1.

You only save a little bit less than 5KB memory with 2.1 but you will loose all bugfixes and enhancements I mentioned before.

It seems it is definately not worth the downgrade.

I'm still up to my butt in alligators,

If I understand you correctly, you simply installed a fresh copy of OS2.1 and loaded BetterWB on top (the same proceedure as if it was OS3.1)?  If true, that's very easy.  Sadly, I haven't had time to even try this yet.  Next month looks better.