help on install of MaconLinux

[Kent Wieland]

Help!  I'm guessing install questions have been discussed here ad 
nauseam but please excuse another plea; I'm new to the list.  I'm 
trying to install MaconLinux but am truly stuck.  The requisite bkgd 
info:

Newly installed YDL 3.0 on:
Ibook 800 12" (640mg RAM)
Airport (connecting just fine right from the installer--woohoo!)

I've downloaded the installer which sits in my home directory.  It is a 
.tar file.  How do I "unzip" (or whatever the correct terminology would 
be for .tar files) and install the program?

Can this be done through the gui (konqueror)?  Or do I have to resort 
to the terminal?  If I do have to resort to the terminal, how would go 
about it?  Does the file have to be somewhere specific to do this?  As 
I stated, the file is currently in my home file.  Does it have to be 
somewhere in root's directory?

Do I need to download the stuffit expander Linux version?  Come to 
think of it, I wouldn't know how to install that either...

pretty stinkin' clueless,
Kent
kwwielan@alpha.delta.edu