Debian GNU/Linux 4.0r1

Debian Operating System is an association of individuals who have made common cause to create a free operating system. This operating system is called Debian GNU/Linux, or simply Debian for short. Debian systems currently use the Linux kernel.
Linux is a completely free piece of software started by Linus Torvalds and supported by thousands of programmers worldwide. Of course, the thing that people want is application software: programs to help them get what they want to do done, from editing documents to running a business to playing games to writing more software.
Debian comes with over 8000 packages (precompiled software that is bundled up in a nice format for easy installation on your machine) - all of it free. Its a bit like a tower. At the base is the kernel. On top of that are all the basic tools.
Next is all the software that you run on the computer. At the top of the tower is Debian -- carefully organizing and fitting everything so it all works together.
Among versions of Linux, Debian is fairly unique, unlike most distributions it isnt backed by any for profit venture and instead is an all volunteer organization. There is no for profit company, or business plan behind Debian, it is a wide ranging project along the lines of GNU. Debian also provides the basis for a number of other Linux distributions, such as Lindows, Xandros, Libranet, and Knoppix.
The linchpin of Debian is a combination package management system and distribution network called forth by the mighty apt-get command. What makes this network so exceptional is that the dpkg-deb files which make up Debian packages contain information on their underlying dependencies so installing a package from the Debian network will call up all of its dependent packages.
As an example, installing a KDE application would make sure that KDE, X windows, and everything underneath was already installed on the system, and if the prerequisite packages werent already installed than the packages would automatically be downloaded and installed from the Debian network.
Enhancements:
- The Debian project has updated the stable distribution Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 (code name Etch). This update adds security updates to the stable release, together with a few corrections to serious problems. As always, the first point release also corrects a few issues that have been noticed too late in the release process to stop the release, but still should be fixed. This point release for Etch also includes an updated release of the installer, which includes the following changes: kernels used in the installer have been updated to ABI 2.6.18-5; updated mirror list; support added for certain USB CD drives that were not being detected; incorrect setup of GKSu fixed when user chooses to install with the root account disabled...