|
BetterWB release 4.3 - 08.02.2018
BetterWB
is a new workbench pack, much like AIAB, Amikit, AmigaSYS, ClassicWB, etc.
but applying a totally different aproach. It aims to be much like an
enhancement, an updated extension to AmigaOS 3.1, without all those hardware
requirement penalties typically associated with these kind of packs. It is
indeed a better 3.1 than 3.1 itself!
BetterWB
best targets:
-Purists
that believe anything beyond 3.1 is an overbloated piece of crap
-Low end Amiga computers that are left in storage deprived from any usage,
and only regarded as antiques
-Users that refuse to pay big bucks in order to be able to somehow upgrade
their Amiga workbench experience
-Minimig users, that are restricted to a 68000 processor
-Anyone that wishes a clean AmigaOS 3.1 like experience
Advantages:
-Works
on any Amiga.
-It occupies less than 10MB on a harddrive
-It is distributed as a set of floppy images
-Its usage is simple and bares a high resemblance to an ordinary 3.1
install
Drawbacks:
-Limited
eye candy (but it does not compromise performance)
-Will appear incomplete, for high end or heavily expanded Amiga systems
(They are probably better with other workbench packs), that rely on visual
appealing components.
Requirements:
Any
Amiga computer
Kickstart rom 3.1 (May also work under 3.0)
AmigaOS 3.1 disk set (May also work under 3.0)
About 10MB of storage space on a harddrive
Updates
from previous versions of BetterWB:
Here
you can find zip files and with them you can either choose the adf or dms
floppy image and use the supplied installer.
BetterWB
4.0 to 4.3 here
BetterWB 3.9 to 4.0 here
BetterWB 3.8 to 3.9 here
BetterWB 3.6 to 3.8 here
BetterWB 3.5 to 3.6 here
BetterWB 3.4 to 3.5 here
BetterWB 3.3 to 3.4 here
BetterWB 3.2 to 3.3 here
Full
Install:
First
install AmigaOS 3.1 like you usually do. Then insert disk #1 of BetterWB,
labeled as "Misc3.1", and install from over there. BetterWB
requires only six floppy disks (labeled "Misc3.1",
"Tools3.1", "Bonus3.1", “Docs31”, "Icons3.1"
and "Drivers3.1") to be installed. All disk images can be
downloaded from here as .ADF floppy images or here as .DMS floppy images .
After that download apply the BetterWB
4.0 to 4.3 update.
Features:
-New and Improved
datatypes for gif, jpg, bmp, png, pcx, ilbm, tga, tiff, wav and cdxl media
-Modern backup tool (ABackup) that replaces the ancient one from 3.1
-New Removable media partition mounter (SCSIMounter)
-New System snooper (SnoopDOS)
-Fast and easy to use floppy disk copier application (SuperDuper)
-Say, the text to speech utility is back again
-New commodities: GrabIFF, WBGauge, SwazInfo, AssignWedge, CleverWIN,
IconAppearer, AltTab, ToolAlias and AddMenu, DontShowIborder, ModePro,
MultiHelp, yStart, WintoFront, BenchTrash, DosPrefs, PowerSnap, CronTask,
Ned, FreeWheel, PM and MagicMenu
-66 additional workbench printer drivers (take a peek at your SYS:Storage
drawer)
-Three new monitor drivers for improved video support (HD720, HighGFX and
SuperPlus)
-A complete set of manuals that explain all these new features (See inside
HELP: )
-New more flexible handlers (GrabIFFHandler, port-handler and
speak-handler)
-A couple of upgraded, and new system commands (Info, Installer, Reboot,
SetPatch, Version, Break, Join, Copy, Sort, Avail, WBRun, Add44k, DMS,
zDir, RequestChoice, dd, Addmem, LockDevice and Showboards)
-XPKMaster offers a data compression/decompression library available to
programs that support it
-Reworked WBPattern preferences with more options
-New Finder utility that lets you search for any given pattern
-ShowConfig has been replaced by the powerful WhichAmiga
-Totalcalc is a replacement calculator that can even be configured as an
advanced scientific one
-MinStack increases the default stack size for programs to 8KB (Can be
configured to any size)
-Enhanced Serial prefs program with more options
-FastFileSystem 44.5 patches NSD64 devices to support drives bigger than
4GB (upto 8GB)
-PatchRam fixes a long standing bug in ram-hadler. The Ramdisk now displays
correct usage, and not 100% all the time
-Smaller and faster picture.datatype that speeds up image display
operations
-Bugfixed and faster serial.device
- A greatly enhanced Shell console with a ton of neat features (ZShell)
-The famous LHA, GZIP, ZIP and UNZIP archiver commands are installed in
their latest incarnation
-Queue-Handler has been bugfixed
-An incredibly faster mathtrans.library with an extra feature is included
-Jaztools is a commandline tool to handle ZIP and JAZ drives
-A low resource and flexible filemanager is now present (DirWork)
-Support for FAT and FAT32 volumes is achieved with fat95
-The fastest Amiga filesystem, PFS3, and its associated tools are now
included
-Corrected the ancient "Pure" bit omision in the original AmigaOS
3.1 distribution
-Macintosh floppy format (HFS) and proper mountlist (MAC0) implementation
-Highly enahnced and optimised cdrom filesystem with many new features such
as: Long filename support, Macintosh HFS, multiple
session, hybrid (audio+data), and iso 9660 cdrom support
-Rexxsyslib.library got bugfixed (WaitDosPacket)
-IPrefs features now an increased stack to avoid stack overflows when
loading worbkench backdrop pictures
-Mfm.device got a stack increase to avoid problems with some programs
-New and powerfull workbench system format
-Compact Disk player with lots of great features (ACDPlay)
-SetJoyPort is a program that improves the chances of using a CD32 style
joypad with all games
-Midi support for many
programs with camd.library and the Midiports preferences
-New graphic interface
that lets you read and write back adf and dms floppy images.
-There is a new
preference program that lets you easily handle the WBStartup and the
Commodities drawer.
-TagLiFE is a simple
patch for the utility.library that installs a
new set of optimized
assembler routines to get faster TagList support.
-PatchWB solves many
workbench bugs
-The new icon.library is
active by default (Now you can see all Amiga icons)
-The powerfull BootUte
replaces NoFastMem
-Incorporated a system
font cache that requires no extra memory (Fontcache)
-CopyIcon is a tool that
allows you to copy and replace any Amiga icons
-The superb editor Redit
is now included
-IconSet is a new
preferences program to switch between icon types
-Rebooter is a new handy
application to work with low memory enviroments
-Hardwiz lets you
autodetect and install drivers for the most popular hardware accelerators
-EnvHandler will save
memory by optimising envarc:
-FullPalette will let you
lock and optimise palettes
-Charmap is a tool that
helps dealing with all the characters of a given font
-Prepcard+ helps the user
to easily manage other hardware on the pcmcia port (Wifi, ethernet, modems
and card readers)
-Disksalv and pfsdoctor
are now integrated as salvage options
-ConBuffer gives
scrollbars to any cli (configured by default for Zshell)
-Datatypes.library 45.4
corrects several bugs and is a little bit faster than its previous
counterpart
-DOSDrivers for Jaz and
Zip drives are included. If you still have one of those magnetic dinosaurs
;)
History &
changelog:
4.3 – Minimal
public update 08-02-2018
Icon.library updated to 46.4.473
Redit updated to 1.16
BoardsLib updated to 3.42
Say updated to 38.5
Speak-Handler updated to 39.1
HardWiz updated (AcaTune 1.91)
Fixed mathtrans.library bug
4.2 – Eternal
Internal: more tests and fixes 15-06-2017
Not a public release yet.
4.1 – Internal
testing: toying with some ideas 26-09-2015
Not a public release.
4.0 –
AutoHappyBirthday 27-02-2015
Rebooter has now a fast performing bootable ram option
LockDevice is a command which between other things, changes the read and
write status of a drive
Icon.library has been updated to 46.4.408
Fat95 has been updated to 3.18
Dir now generates a wider and more clear display mode
ConBuffer gives scrollbars to any cli (configured by default for Zshell)
A new commodity, PM, a cpu/process meter
Datatypes.library 45.4 corrects several bugs and is a little bit faster
than its previous counterpart
DOSDrivers for Jaz and Zip drives are included. If you still have one of
those magnetic dinosaurs ;)
Reduced the memory footprint just another extra bit
A few more minor fixes and tweaks.
3.9 – No trip
to India 19-11-2014
Disksalv and pfsdoctor are now integrated as salvage options
Addmem command allows you to configure non autoconfig friendly ram
expansions
Icon.library has been updated to 46.4.399
Prism2v2 has been updated to 2.6
PrepCard+ has been updated to v0.2
SmartWin is no longer needed. CleverWIN replaces it, and doesnt require a
workbench reset
TextEngine crashed under some RTG systems. It has been replaced by Redit.
SwazInfo is suggested when switching to GlowIcons
Reduced memory footprint a bit more
A few more minor fixes and tweaks
3.8 – ...Back
on track 24-09-2014
Charmap is a tool that helps dealing with all the characters of a given
font
Prepcard+ helps the user in managing other hardware on the pcmcia port
(Wifi, ethernet, modems and card readers).
Ned is a commodity that lets you close the active window by pressing the
"Esc" key
Freewheel helps you in using the mouse wheel comfortably
Updated HardWiz: Phase5 68060.library to latest v46.15
Updated icon.library to 46.4.385
Updated pfs3aio to v2.3 (28-05-2014)
HDToolBox is back (Some users reported incompatibilities with HDinstTools)
WhichAmiga now properly works with ACA accelerators (modrobert´s fix)
EnvHandler is now offered as an option, and a warning message is displayed
upon first install of BetterWB
Tweaked Magic Menu Prefs: Pull-Down and Pop-Up menu usage is better as
Smart Select. (Thanks Retrofan)
A few more minor fixes and tweaks
3.7– Eternal
internal release 21-07-2014
3.6 – Spare
time strikes back 20-03-2014
Full 68040, 68060 and ACA accelerators autodetection and driver support
with the new HardWiz
Rebooter is a new very handy application for restricted memory systems
EnvHandler will save quite a lot of ram by optimising envarc (Thanks
PeterK)
Easily customize and lock palettes with FullPalette
Updated icon.library to version 46.4.339 which is faster and less memory
hungry
Updated PFS3 aio to latest build (19-march-2014)
Updated DMS to version 1.53
Added a small text with a couple of tips after switching to GlowIcons
Gzip is back. It is required for ADZ support in TSGUI (Thanks Jost)
Added missing deficons (tool & project)
Changed default position of the global trashcan whenever it is activated,
so it doesnt get in the way
For the love of the boing ball: replaced workbench´s glowicon to suit
Jarek´s taste ;)
Replaced the standard trashcan icon with one that looks more elegant
BetterWB has now its own envarc drawer with wich you can easily check
wether BetterWB is installed, which version is it, and the extensions it
has enabled (FullPalette, GlowIcons, Rebooter)
Plus a few more minor fixes and tweaks
3.5 – The
dirty bit 04-03-2014
Fixed Redit and Ed duality. They now live together in harmony
Fixed the IconSet typos for those german friends out there
Goodbye GZIP. Welcome ZIP and UNZIP.
DirWork is still in love with Redit after the Ed affair (new DW.cfg)
3.4 –
Relentless : ) 03-03-2014
Fixed two enforcer hits present in the Status command since CBM days
Fixed a compatibility problem that surfaced with ClassAct (Thanks David)
Fixed some problems with deficons when using glowicons (Thanks Jarek)
Updated icon.library to 46.4.334
Added a new commodity (Crontask) that can easily manage job scheduling
Added a warning to both MagicMenu and CronTask prefs, so you can only
configure them when they are actually running
Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements
3.3 – Back
again 21-02-2014
Updated icon.library to version 46.4.332
Added showboards command so that we can detect some ACA accelerators
(WhichAmiga fails with some of them)
Added PowerSnap commodity for enhanced clipboard functionality
Redit 1.8 replaces the aging Ed and gives you much more functionality
Added a new "IconSet" preferences app that lets you switch
between different built-in icon types
Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements
3.2 - End of
year rebuild ;) 16-12-2013
DosPrefs is a commodity that replaces both Clicknot and Unixdirs3 and adds
wildcard support
A powerful system Trashcan is now included as a commodity
MagicMenu has now a preferences program and is configured to use less
resources (Thank you SS454 !)
Boards.library got updated to its last incarnation
A bugfixed requestchoice command fixes 3 bugs that were previously
available
Tooltype tweaking on some commodities for more comfortable use
Workaround for an icon.library bug regarding internal deficons
Format GUI now works without problems
Plus Many more fixes and minor enhancements
|
