BLACK="%{"$'\033[01;30m'"%}" GREEN="%{"$'\033[01;32m'"%}" RED="%{"$'\033[01;31m'"%}" YELLOW="%{"$'\033[01;33m'"%}" BLUE="%{"$'\033[01;34m'"%}" BOLD="%{"$'\033[01;39m'"%}" NORM="%{"$'\033[00m'"%}" export PS1="${RED}%n${NORM} AT ${BLUE}%m ${GREEN}(%T)${NORM} %#" #will look like this (with appropriate colors) %T is the current time user AT mycomputer (22:33) %