What is "central repository method of distribution"?

I was reading these
MS Kills Office Anti-Piracy Program
Confessions of a Windows 7 pirate | ZDNet

I found this term "central repository method of distribution" on a zdnet comment. What is it? Google didn't give me anything useful, especially for the case of Linux. Didn't really see any layman terms.

This was only remotely useful... I still don't understand how it works, especially for Linux.
Method and system for electronic distribution of product redemption coupons - Patent Application 20050149405

I run OpenSUSE 11.3 x64 a linux distribution as my main OS it use software repositories for software management.

Here is the wiki for Suse package managment Concepts package management - openSUSE

Basicly the software manager connects to online repositories of software that have been submitted for review and passed inspections. Software packages are compiled and optimized to run in Suse.

I think it's more or less like an app store, to keep it simple. You access the repository and choose what you want to download: it can be either free (as in beer) or require a payment.

I can talk about Mint for example (which, all in all, is Ubuntu): you have some central repositories, where the software is stored (and secured).

The main advantage of central repositories is that you know what you're downloading. It happened that a repository got hacked (here, but it's the only case I'm aware of and as far as I know it is not a repository from where Ubuntu downloads apps and updates "by default"), but in the end you're more secure when downloading from a trusted, official repository than downloading from somewhere else in the net.