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+
+ Yes, it is that time again! After well over a year of planning,
+development, and testing, the Slackware Linux Project is proud to
+announce the latest stable release of the longest running distribution
+of the Linux operating system, Slackware version 14.0!
+
+ We are sure you'll enjoy the many improvements. 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 its simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to
+you in the condition that the authors intended.
+
+ Slackware 14.0 brings many updates and enhancements, among which
+you'll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available
+today: Xfce 4.10.0, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and
+easy to use desktop environment, and KDE 4.8.5, a recent stable release
+of the 4.8.x series of the award-winning KDE desktop environment.
+These desktops utilize udev, udisks, and udisks2, and many of the
+specifications from freedesktop.org which allow 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. Slackware's desktop
+should be suitable for any level of Linux experience.
+
+ Slackware uses the 3.2.29 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. First there are 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. Note that on
+x86_64 (64-bit), all the kernels are SMP capable.
+
+
+Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 14.0:
+
+- Runs the 3.2.29 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org.
+ The 3.2.x series is well-tested, offers good performance, and will be
+ getting long term support from kernel.org. For people interested in
+ trying out newer kernels, we've provided sample configuration files
+ for Linux 3.4.11, 3.5.4, and 3.6-rc4 under the /testing directory.
+
+- System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.15.
+ This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with
+ existing binaries.
+
+- X11 based on the X.Org Foundation's modular X Window System.
+ This is X11R7.7, a new release, with many improvements in terms of
+ performance and hardware support.
+
+- Installs gcc-4.7.1 as the default C, C++, Objective-C,
+ Fortran-77/95/2003/2008, and Ada 95/2005/2012 compiler.
+
+- Support for NetworkManager for simple configuration of wired and
+ wireless network connections, including mobile broadband, IPv6, VPN,
+ and more. Roam seamlessly between known networks, and quickly set
+ up new connections. We've retained full support for the traditional
+ Slackware networking scripts and for the wicd network manager,
+ offering choice and flexibility to all levels of users.
+
+- Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL,
+ OpenSSH, OpenVPN, and GnuPG.
+
+- Apache (httpd) 2.4.3 web server with Dynamic Shared Object
+ support, SSL, and PHP 5.4.7.
+
+- USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), and ACPI support, as well as legacy PCMCIA
+ and Cardbus support. This makes Slackware a great operating system
+ for your laptop.
+
+- The udev dynamic device management system for Linux 3.x.
+ This locates and configures most hardware automatically as it
+ is added (or removed) from the system, loading kernel modules
+ as needed. It works along with the kernel's devtmpfs filesystem
+ to create access nodes in the /dev directory.
+
+- New development tools, including Perl 5.16.1, Python 2.7.3,
+ Ruby 1.9.3-p194, Subversion 1.7.6, git-1.7.12.1, mercurial-2.2.2,
+ 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 13.37 to
+ Slackware 14.0 (see UPGRADE.TXT and 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 will help you build and maintain
+ your own packages.
+
+- Web browsers galore! Includes KDE's Konqueror 4.8.5, SeaMonkey 2.12.1
+ (this is the replacement for the Mozilla Suite), Mozilla Firefox 15.0.1,
+ as well as the Thunderbird 15.0.1 email and news client with advanced
+ junk mail filtering. A script is also available in /extra to repackage
+ Google Chrome as a native Slackware package.
+
+- The KDE Software Compilation 4.8.5, a complete desktop environment.
+ This includes the Calligra productivity suite (previously known as
+ KOffice), networking tools, GUI development with KDevelop, multimedia
+ tools (including the 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-2.10.6,
+ gimp-2.8.2 (with many improvements including a single window mode),
+ gkrellm-2.3.5, xchat-2.8.8, xsane-0.998, and pan-0.139.
+
+- A repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to run
+ in the /extra directory.
+
+- Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here. For
+ a complete list of core packages in Slackware 14.0, see this file:
+
+ ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-14.0/PACKAGES.TXT
+
+
+Downloading Slackware 14.0:
+---------------------------
+
+ The full version of Slackware Linux 14.0 is available for download
+from the central Slackware FTP site hosted by our friends at osuosl.org:
+
+ ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-14.0/
+
+If the sites are busy, see the list of official mirror sites here:
+
+ http://mirrors.slackware.com
+
+ 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 14.0 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 14.0 release on one
+side, and the 64-bit x86_64 Slackware 14.0 release on the other. Both
+sides are bootable for easy installation, and includes everything from
+both releases of Slackware 14.0, including the complete source code
+trees.
+
+ The 6 CD-ROM release of Slackware 14.0 is the 32-bit x86 edition.
+It includes a bootable first CD-ROM for easy installation. The 6
+CD-ROMs are labeled for easy reference.
+
+ The Slackware 14.0 x86 6 CD-ROM set is $49.95 plus shipping, or
+choose the Slackware 14.0 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. There are still some 1337 T-shirts left,
+and we'll also be unveiling a brand new T-shirt design soon for this new
+release.
+
+ 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
+