you can not download things like you do on windows, I have not used a straight debian distro but the one I use Mepis is based on debian, you need to open synaptic package manager which will require you to type in your root password then once in synaptic you can do a search for the items you want to install from the repositories, select them mark them for install then apply, it will then get those items and install them on your computer. Anytime you need programs you go to synaptic and look for them in the repositories that is how you get your programs and apps in linux. You need to do some reading on how to use your distro and join a dedicated debian forum you will learn much more that way.
You will definitely have to learn how to use the repositories how to add new ones to your package manager and how to use your package manager, you may have something other than synaptic also included with that version I am not sure, I know that ubuntu also includes add/ remove which is not the same as add remove on windows, in the linux one you go there to find programs and apps to install on your computer.
this is what your synaptic package manager looks like opened
{{gwi:1474466}}
you might try this forum

Here is a link that might be useful: eeeuser

I ended up doing a system restore and started over. Got everything going using the system you describe. I still don't understand how you get items into the repository. I've tried downloading software, such as Gyachi but cannot install it. Another problem is the fact that I found something similar to Gyachi callKopete but can't get the web cam to work on it...I guess that means learning about respository management etc too? Appreciate your help...looks like a steepo learning curve for me :(

I had a command line program that I used with debian called apt. Is that still around?

yes apt get is still around but most people want a gui based way and not learn command line. And the fact that some of the distros are altered versions specially created for use on these little netbooks makes it more difficult to help because the altered distro may not be the same as the full distro etc.

Using synaptic is a breeze, you just open the synaptic package manager which would be listed in your applications menu and then when it ask for root type that in and it opens synaptic just like in that picture then you can either search for the name of the item you want or go through the list looking for it, once you do find it, say you are looking for firefox, do search for firefox, it finds it and you see it listed in the list hilight it and select mark then apply and it will tell you that it will be installing that to your pc you click ok and it does it's thing and then says it completed successfully and you close that window and voila you now have firefox on your pc. That is how you install any type of program to linux. You do not do like you did in windows and search the web and find some program that you have no idea if it is safe or not and download an exe to your pc which you then execute and hope that it is not virus laden. The programs are already all loaded into the repository and have been checked so you know they are clean and safe, you find them using synaptic or some package manager and install them. It is so much easier than the windows way. You just have to unlearn windows.

Windows to Linux: A Beginner's Guide
that is a must have site, there are many others that I relied on heavily when I started but by far the best thing is to find a good related forum for your version and sign up.

It really is not that steep a learning curve just like going to a Mac you have to learn a new os same with linux, once you learn it you realize it makes much more sense.

does that asus eee use Gnome or KDE desktop? I much prefer KDE it is more similar to windows.

this is from an ubuntu source but does a good job of explaining
What is Synaptic ?

Here is a link that might be useful: debianuser forums