“Everything a Desktop Can Be” – state of the test version, November 2026
MEYER OS 1.0 Beta (Technical Preview) – in development, not yet available. MEYER OS shows Linux at its most beautiful. An operating system by MEYER EDV GmbH based on Debian GNU/Linux 13 and KDE Plasma 6 – with its own desktop, the AI assistant Garry and in-house apps for office and everyday use. A version for the Raspberry Pi 5 (arm64) is also in development. Currently no download and no ordering.
Desktop with dolphin wallpaper, MEYER | Dateien (Files) in two columns and the open Wi-Fi panel, 3840 × 2160 (test VM, made-up data) – test version, November 2026 (in development)
MEYER OS 1.0 Beta (Technical Preview) – in development, not yet available.
MEYER OS is an operating system for PCs and notebooks by MEYER EDV GmbH that is under development. There is currently no download, no ordering and no pre-ordering. This page describes the state of the internal test version in November 2026. The test version has so far been tried mainly in virtual machines and on individual test PCs; functions and names may change before a release. Anything that is only planned is explicitly marked as “planned” at the respective item. The screenshots were taken in a test VM with made-up sample data.
In the test version: a top bar with time and date (calendar; alarm, timer and stopwatch), volume, network, quick settings and search. A dock with pinned apps and open windows; width, alignment, height, visibility and window preview can be adjusted. The start menu “Your next step” with app search. Windows can be snapped to predefined screen areas via a button in the title bar. Light and dark design, optionally switching automatically by time of day. Widgets can be placed on the desktop.
In the test version: several workspaces with their own names. The “Spaces” overview (Meta+W) shows all workspaces with their windows; windows can be dragged to another workspace there. Workspaces can be assigned to individual screens, and the dock appears on all screens. Arrangement and scaling of multiple screens are set in Settings.
In the test version: all settings in one app with search, grouped into areas such as display, power, sound, network, appearance, way of working and accounts. Individual pages can be opened as a separate window and docked again. The device manager shows all detected devices with their drivers. Network with Wi-Fi, VPN and hotspot, Bluetooth, power profiles and, on notebooks, battery health.
integrated AI assistant with configurable supported providers or your own compatible server; Garry can make mistakes
questions also by voice
local by default; cloud dictation after separate activation
In the test version: Garry is an integrated AI assistant with configurable supported providers or your own compatible server. To use it, you set up a provider or server; its terms apply. Garry answers questions and drafts texts that you can copy; questions can also be spoken. Each workspace can have its own Garry with its own conversation history. Garry is an AI and can make mistakes – check important information. Requests to Garry send content to the chosen provider or server; a web search sends search terms to search services. Planned: a consistent approval step for enabling cloud AI in MEYER apps.
In the test version: dictation into apps, local by default; cloud dictation only after separate activation. Meta+X switches dictation on and off in the active window; while Ctrl+Y is held down, dictation runs, optionally also with a mouse button.
e-mail (IMAP, POP3), calendar, contacts and notes
In the test version: a Chromium-based browser with a private mode. Websites can be set up as web apps with their own window; the search engine can be chosen.
In the test version: e-mail with IMAP or POP3 accounts, plus calendar, contacts and notes. An e-mail can be added as an appointment or opened in MEYER | Office.
In the test version: MEYER | Text, MEYER | Calc and MEYER | Presentation with their own interface based on LibreOffice. Supports the Word, Excel and PowerPoint file formats; functions and layout may differ. OpenDocument files are edited directly. Spell checking, paragraph styles and dictation in MEYER | Text; presentation templates in light and dark design.
In the test version: the MEYER | Software Shop searches, installs and removes programs from the Debian package repositories; it shows downloaded .deb files with their details before installation. Planned: MEYER add-on programs via the Software Shop.
MEYER | Video
maps and routes (routing only within Germany, internet connection required)
In the test version: file manager with quick access, search in folder, two-column view and details pane, light and dark design. Connect network drives, share folders on the network (a share can also be opened via QR code) and show storage usage as a ring chart.
In the test version: MEYER | Fotos (Photos) shows the photo collection and, when a smartphone, camera or memory card is connected, offers to import the photos. MEYER | Kamera (Camera) takes photos and videos, with self-timer, filters and QR code detection (a detected address only opens after a click). MEYER | Video plays videos. Screenshots of an area, a window or the whole screen, with an editor for marking, redacting, pixelating and cropping; screen recordings optionally with system sound and microphone.
In the test version: maps and routes by car, bicycle and on foot; routing only within Germany, no public transport. An internet connection is required.
wizard with resource guard, “MEYER OS Server” template, import, full screen at the screen's resolution, up to four virtual screens, seamless windows, 3D acceleration for Linux guests on suitable graphics, Secure Boot with the 2011 and 2023 certificates, TPM 2.0, snapshots and backup also while running. Windows as a guest system only with your own valid Windows licence.
compatibility depends on program and version
In the test version: selected Windows programs via Wine; compatibility depends on program and version. Virtual machines with MEYER | Visor (separate paragraph).
In the test version: virtual machines in a dedicated app. A wizard creates new VMs from an ISO file and suggests processors, memory and disk; the resource guard checks beforehand whether the PC has enough power and space. The “MEYER OS Server” template sets up a ready-made server in the VM. Existing VM disks and OVA packages can be imported, VMs can be cloned. Use in the console, in a separate window, in full screen where the VM takes over the screen's resolution, or with up to four virtual screens; “Nahtlos” (seamless) shows individual apps from the VM as separate windows. 3D acceleration for Linux guests on suitable graphics (so far tested on one PC). Secure Boot with the 2011 and 2023 certificates and TPM 2.0 for guests that need it. Snapshots also while running; backup of VMs after setup, also while running and, if desired, in several locations, with restoring of individual files. Network via NAT, as an isolated network or directly in your own network via the PC's cable connection; USB devices can be passed through to a VM, Linux guests get a shared folder with the Visor guest tools. VMs on further Linux servers can be managed as well via SSH. Windows as a guest system only with your own valid Windows licence. On the Raspberry Pi 5 only Linux guests for ARM64.
TPM support on suitable hardware
In the test version: Notes, a terminal and MEYER | Hilfe (Help). Ctrl+Alt+Del opens an emergency screen, for example to end an app that no longer responds or to restart the desktop; plus a task manager.
In the test version: backup after setting up a backup target and schedule, for example to a drive or a network drive (SMB/SFTP); backups are stored encrypted. Disk encryption selectable during installation, with a recovery key; TPM support on suitable hardware (TPM 2.0 with Secure Boot).
In the test version: Orca screen reader, screen magnifier, colour filters, large text, high contrast and keyboard and mouse aids.
In the test version: help in German with search and guides to the apps. Planned: a central intake of bug reports.
MEYER OS for Raspberry Pi 5 (arm64) – beta (technical preview), in development, not yet available
Raspberry Pi 5 (arm64) – separate list, in development:
MEYER | Sensoren (Sensors) with pages for 50 modules, history and wiring diagram – experimental, not tested in practice with any component; the demo mode shows made-up values. In development: several workstations on one PC, each with its own screen, keyboard and mouse. So far only tried in virtual machines, not tested with two real screens; not part of a first test version.
2, 4 and 16 GB not yet tested on the device
Linux kernel and firmware from the sources of the Raspberry Pi project
started on the test device, a complete check of every app is still outstanding
4 GB speech recognition off; 8 GB compact, 16 GB large speech model (only 8 GB tested)
sound via HDMI (output set up, playback not yet tested)
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are detected, connections not yet tested
no Windows VMs, no Wine
no sleep mode; no TPM, no disk encryption during setup
In the test version: the test version of MEYER OS also runs on the Raspberry Pi 5. It uses the MEYER desktop and the apps named below for arm64; Pi-specific differences are described in the respective area. MEYER OS is based on Debian GNU/Linux 13 (“trixie”). MEYER OS is not an official product of the Debian project. The Linux kernel and firmware for the Pi come from the sources of the Raspberry Pi project; MEYER OS for Raspberry Pi 5 is not a product of Raspberry Pi Ltd. The test version has so far been tested on a Raspberry Pi 5 with 8 GB of memory; devices with 2, 4 or 16 GB have not yet been tested on the device.
In the test version: desktop, workspaces, settings, Garry, voice dictation, MEYER | Mail, MEYER | Office, MEYER | Dateien (Files), photos, camera, video, screenshots, MEYER | Atlas, Software Shop, backup, accessibility and help as described above. All visible apps were started on the test device; a complete check of every app on the Pi is still outstanding. On the Pi, the MEYER INTERNET browser currently uses Debian's Chromium package; the Ocean design and some additional functions of the PC browser are missing there. Planned: an own browser core for arm64.
In the test version: with 2 GB the desktop shows a plain light blue instead of an image, the screen saver is set to “Black (power saving)”, local speech recognition is off by default, some background services only start when needed, and Garry is ready about two minutes after login (Meta+G starts it immediately). With 4 GB local speech recognition is off by default. With 8 GB dictation uses the compact, with 16 GB the large speech model. Speech recognition can be switched on and off in Settings at any time; your own settings are kept.
In the test version: display via micro HDMI, tested with one display on the first port; the second port has not yet been tested. Sound via HDMI: the output is detected and set up, audible playback has not yet been tested on the test device. Camera ports via libcamera: drivers and connection to the camera apps are present, not yet tested with a connected camera. Ethernet is tested in operation; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are detected, connections with them have not yet been tested. Settings show processor and graphics (VideoCore VII) with utilisation and the power consumption as an estimate without USB devices and accessories.
In the test version, experimental, not tested with actual components; values may deviate and are untested guide values, not measurements for health, fire protection or other safety decisions: MEYER | Sensoren shows readings of sensor modules on the GPIO header (I²C, SPI, UART, 1-Wire), with a page per sensor, wiring diagram, history from one hour to seven days and a value list for copying or as a CSV file. The catalogue covers 50 modules. History is only recorded while the app is open. The drivers have only been tested against a simulation based on the data sheet. The interfaces are only switched on after confirmation with the administrator password.
In the test version: on the Pi, MEYER | Visor only creates Linux machines for ARM64; tested up to the start of the installer in the guest. No Windows VMs and no Windows programs via Wine on the Pi.
Planned (in development, not yet tested with two displays): two workstations on one Pi, each with its own display, keyboard and mouse.
local AI models are too slow on the Pi for Garry (about one word every two seconds); there Garry uses an AI provider or your own compatible server. No sleep mode. No TPM and no disk encryption during setup. Without a fan the Pi reaches its temperature limit under load and throttles; an active cooler is recommended.
In the test version MEYER OS is set up on an existing Debian installation on the Pi. Planned: a ready-made image for the memory card with first-time setup.
MEYER OS is based on Debian GNU/Linux 13 (“trixie”). MEYER OS is not an official product of the Debian project. The working environment is KDE Plasma 6 with MEYER EDV's own desktop. MEYER EDV's own interfaces, apps and help texts are in German; programs by other vendors may use other languages or terms. Planned: translations of the MEYER apps.
“Everything a Desktop Can Be” and “MEYER OS shows Linux at its most beautiful.” Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
Many basic functions work locally. Online functions and automatic system services establish network connections; in doing so, usage content and technical data may be transmitted to the respective services. This applies in particular to maps and routes in MEYER | Atlas and to place names in MEYER | Fotos (Photos; queries to the MEYER EDV map service with rounded photo coordinates; in the test version MEYER | Fotos queries them automatically), online functions of MEYER | Mail (for example sender images and AI functions), AI functions such as Garry (content is sent to the chosen AI provider or server; a web search sends search terms to search services), search suggestions in the browser, automatic connections of the package management to servers for software packages and licence checks of purchased add-on programs.
MEYER OS is intended to be offered free of charge permanently; individual add-on programs and services have separate licence and pricing models.