Motivation: Continuing to Use Older Computers

Once support for the operating system preinstalled by the computer manufacturer ends, using that operating system on any computer poses a security risk: Protection against various threats such as malware, computer viruses, or even (ransomware) Trojans is no longer available.

Not only for financial reasons, but especially with regard to sustainability and environmental responsibility, it usually does not make sense to dispose of functioning older devices as “e-waste” when system updates are no longer possible. With Linux operating systems, free alternatives are available that can be easily installed on older devices. All files created with common programs, such as the well-known Microsoft Office applications—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others—can be imported without any issues. However, the wide variety of available alternatives does not exactly make decision-making easy for users, not to mention leaving them “spoiled for choice.”

Our goal is therefore to offer a “tailored” solution for students at the University of Cologne that makes getting started easier and the transition as smooth as possible.

 

Customized Configuration

The operating system has been optimized and customized for students at the University of Cologne:

 

• The system is preset with the German language pack, German keyboard layout, and the appropriate time zone.

• All available drivers for hardware support are loaded automatically.

• The interface is set to a consistent, light-colored default design.

• Various software sources are preconfigured: Ubuntu package sources (apt), the Ubuntu Snap Store (snap), and the Gnome Foundation’s Flathub app store (flatpak).

• A print service is preconfigured.

• Services programmed by us maintain the system in the background, clean up old installations, and update our support media.

• The installation runs automatically after a confirmation click.

   

Pre-installed software

An overview of the most important software additions, excluding “must-haves” such as browsers, image viewers, and PDF readers:

 

For students at the University of Cologne

• Cisco Secure Client (VPN) (*)

• eduroam Client (*)

• Zoom (*)

   

For academia

• LibreOffice office suite with high compatibility with Microsoft Office

• Email: Thunderbird

• Statistics: R and R Studio (*)

• Development environment: Visual Studio Code (*)

 

For creativity

• Video recording and streaming: OBS

• Image editing: GIMP

• Video editing: Kdenlive

• Audio editing: Audacity

 

For media playback

• Audio and video: VLC

• Audio library: Lollypop

• Streaming (subscription required): Spotify (*)

   

For security

• Password manager: KeepassXC

• File encryption: Cryptomator

• Antivirus: ClamTK

• Backups: Déjà Dup

 

Programs marked with an asterisk (*) are not included in the ISO available via the website.

 

 

Technical Details

The project is based on the Ubuntu operating system with the Budgie desktop environment. Ubuntu is a Linux operating system (distribution) specifically designed for beginners; Budgie offers a desktop environment with a modern and clean look. The pre-installed version, Ubuntu Budgie 24.04 (the numbers indicate the year and month), guarantees long-term support until May 2027, though upgrading to the successor version—released every two years—is, of course, easily possible.

We have customized the Ubuntu Budgie installation file for StudiOS and added a wide selection of software. As administrators of their own devices, users of our operating system have the freedom to customize the system to their heart’s content, add programs, or remove them. Due to the extensive software package, a hard drive with a capacity of at least 100 gigabytes is required for installation.

With the help of the maintenance account on the device, you can clarify any questions on-site with us.