Have tried to install LINUX several times over the years but have never been smart enough to install it on any computer.
I could only download “tarball” files which I didn’t have a clue as to what to do with. Have (and have wasted)several CDs full of useless tarball files.
Just downloaded MINT “Cinnamon” to a thumb drive but it’s a “hybrid *.iso” file which I have no idea how to install.
None of the instructions make any sense to me, so apparently I’m still too stupid to join the ranks of LINUX users.
Do you still have to be an advanced technogeek in order to run LINUX?
Is there any other way?
Tarballs are the Linux version of ZIP files. They're not usually self-executing, and I don't know that many Linux variants are deployed with just tarballs except source-based distributions that you have to compile on your own. I understand and mirror your frustration if that's what you've been trying to do.
I personally suggest Ubuntu for most folks. It's a more robust mainstream Linux distribution (Mint is more pared-down and bare bones), and the support community is enormous. 12.04 is currently their most popular long-term support (LTS) distribution. You can find it here:
Download Ubuntu Desktop
The installation instructions provided are pretty simple.
Install Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS