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diff --git a/ANNOUNCE.13_0 b/ANNOUNCE.13_0 new file mode 100644 index 00000000..46459132 --- /dev/null +++ b/ANNOUNCE.13_0 @@ -0,0 +1,214 @@ + +Yes it's that time again! After many months of development and careful +testing, we are proud to announce the release of Slackware version 13.0! + +We are sure you'll agree that the improvements made in this release more +than warrant the major version bump up from the 12.x series. We've done our +best to bring the latest technology to Slackware while still maintaining the +stability and security that you have come to expect. Slackware is well known +for it's simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to you in the +condition that the authors intended. + +Probably the biggest change is the addition of an official 64-bit port. +While the 32-bit (x86) version continues to be developed, this release brings +to you a complete port to 64-bit (x86_64). We know that many of you have +been waiting eagerly for this, and once you try it you'll see it was well +worth the wait. + +Slackware 13.0 brings many updates and enhancements, among which you'll find +two of the most advanced desktop environments available today: Xfce 4.6.1, +a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and easy to use desktop +environment, and KDE 4.2.4, a recent stable release of the new 4.2.x series +of the award-winning K Desktop Environment. We continue to make use of HAL +(Hardware Abstraction Layer) which allows the system administrator to grant +use of various hardware devices according to users' group membership so that +they will be able to use items such as USB flash sticks, USB cameras that +appear like USB storage, portable hard drives, CD and DVD media, MP3 players, +and more, all without requiring sudo, the mount or umount command. Just plug +and play. Properly set up, Slackware's desktop should be suitable for any +level of Linux experience. + +Slackware uses the 2.6.29.6 kernel bringing you advanced performance +features such as journaling filesystems, SCSI and ATA RAID volume support, +SATA support, Software RAID, LVM (the Logical Volume Manager), and +encrypted filesystems. Kernel support for X DRI (the Direct Rendering +Interface) brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics to Linux. + +There are two kinds of kernels in Slackware -- the huge kernels, which +contain support for just about every driver in the Linux kernel. These are +primarily intended to be used for installation, but there's no real reason +that you couldn't continue to run them after you have installed. The +other type of kernel is the generic kernel, in which nearly every driver +is built as a module. To use a generic kernel you'll need to build an +initrd to load your filesystem module and possibly your drive controller +or other drivers needed at boot time, configure LILO to load the initrd at +boot, and reinstall LILO. See the docs in /boot after installing for more +information. Slackware's Linux kernels come in both SMP and non-SMP types +now. The SMP kernel supports multiple processors, multi-core CPUs, +HyperThreading, and about every other optimization available. In our own +testing this kernel has proven to be fast, stable, and reliable. We +recommend using the SMP kernel even on single processor machines if it +will run on them. + +From the beginning, Slackware has offered a stable and secure Linux +distribution for UNIX veterans as well as an easy-to-use system for +beginners. Slackware includes everything you'll need to run a powerful +server or workstation. Each Slackware package follows the setup and +installation instructions from its author(s) as closely as possible, +offering you the most stable and easily expandable setup. + +Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 13.0: + +- Runs the 2.6.29.6 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org. + Also included is a kernel patched with Speakup to support speech + synthesizers providing access to Linux for the visually impaired + community. The 2.6.x kernel series has matured into a stable + kernel, and provides reliable performance for your desktop or + your production server. + +- System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.9. + This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with + existing binaries. + +- X11 based on the X.Org Foundation's modular X Window System. + There's been much activity in the X development world, and the + improvements in terms of performance and hardware support are + too numerous to mention them all here. + +- Installs gcc-4.3.3 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, + Fortran-77/95, and Ada 95 compiler. + +- Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL, + OpenSSH, OpenVPN, and GnuPG. + +- Apache (httpd) 2.2.13 web server with Dynamic Shared Object + support, SSL, and PHP 5.2.10. + +- PCMCIA, CardBus, USB, IEE1394 (FireWire) and ACPI support. This + makes Slackware a great operating system for your laptop. + +- The udev dynamic device management system for Linux 2.6.x. + This locates and configures most hardware automatically as it + is added (or removed) from the system, and creates the access + nodes in /dev. It also loads the kernel modules required by + sound cards and other hardware at boot time. + +- New development tools, including Perl 5.10.0, Python 2.6.2, + Ruby 1.8.7-p174, Subversion 1.6.4, git-1.6.4, mercurial-1.2.1, + graphical tools like Qt designer and KDevelop, and much more. + +- Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make it + easy to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware packages. + Package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware 12.2 to + Slackware 13.0 (see CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT). The slackpkg tool can + also help update from an older version of Slackware to a newer one, + and keep your Slackware system up to date. In addition, the + slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and maintain + your own packages. + +- Web browsers galore! Includes KDE's Konqueror 4.2.4, + SeaMonkey 1.1.17 (this is the replacement for the Mozilla + Suite), and the immensely popular Firefox 3.5.2, as well as + the Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 email and news client with advanced + junk mail filtering. + +- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 4.2.4, including + the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI development + with KDevelop, multimedia tools (including the amazing Amarok + music player and K3B disc burning software), the Konqueror web + browser and file manager, dozens of games and utilities, + international language support, and more. + +- A collection of GTK+ based applications including pidgin-2.5.9, + gimp-2.6.6, gkrellm-2.3.2, gxine-0.5.903, xchat-2.8.6, xsane-0.996, + and pan-0.133. + +- A repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to run. + This includes the Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit Standard + Edition, an MPlayer browser plugin, alternate Intel video drivers + for X, and more (see the /extra directory). + +- Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here. For + a complete list of core packages in Slackware 13.0, see this file: + + ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.0/PACKAGES.TXT + + +Downloading Slackware 13.0: +--------------------------- + +The full version of Slackware Linux 13.0 is available for download from +the central Slackware FTP sites hosted by our friends at www.cwo.com +and osuosl.org: + + ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-13.0/ + ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.0/ + +If the sites are busy, see the list of official mirror sites here: + + http://slackware.com/getslack/ + +We will be setting up BitTorrent downloads for the official ISO images. +Stay tuned to http://slackware.com for the latest updates. + +Instructions for burning the Slackware tree onto install discs may be +found in the isolinux directory. + + +Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM or DVD: +-------------------------------------- + +Or, please consider purchasing the Slackware Linux 13.0 six CD-ROM set +or deluxe dual-sided DVD release directly from Slackware Linux, and +you'll be helping to support the continued development of Slackware Linux! + +The DVD release has the 32-bit x86 Slackware 13.0 release on one side, +and the 64-bit x86_64 Slackware 13.0 release on the other. Both sides +are bootable for easy installation, and includes everything from both +releases of Slackware 13.0, including the complete source code trees. + +The 6 CD-ROM release of Slackware 13.0 is the 32-bit x86 edition. It +includes a bootable first CD-ROM for easy installation, and everything +from the Slackware 13.0 32-bit x86 release is contained on 6 discs +labeled for easy reference. + +The Slackware 13.0 x86 6 CD-ROM set is $49.95 plus shipping, or choose +the Slackware 13.0 x86/x86_64 dual-sided DVD (also $49.95 plus shipping). + +Slackware Linux is also available by subscription. When we release a new +version of Slackware (which is normally once or twice a year) we ship it +to you and bill your credit card for a reduced subscription price +($32.99 for the CD-ROM set, or $39.95 for the DVD) plus shipping. + +For shipping options, see the Slackware store website. Before ordering +express shipping, you may wish to check that we have the product in stock. +We make releases to the net at the same time as disc production begins, +so there is a lag between the online release and the shipping of media. +But, even if you download now you can still buy the official media later. +You'll feel good, be helping the project, and have a great decorative +item perfect for any computer room shelf. :-) + + +Ordering Information: +--------------------- + + You can order online at the Slackware Linux store: + http://store.slackware.com + + Other Slackware items like t-shirts, caps, pins, and stickers + can also be found here. These will help you find and identify + yourself to your fellow Slackware users. :-) + + Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware + reseller) may be directed to this address: + info@slackware.com + + +Have fun! :^) I hope you find Slackware to be useful, and thanks +very much for your support of this project over the years. + +--- +Patrick J. Volkerding <volkerdi@slackware.com> + +Visit us on the web at: http://slackware.com + |