Help with tar.gz or bz2 installation

[jwolfe71]

I need some help installing programs that are extracted using tar.gz or bz2.
I always get confused on where the downloads (folders) should go. Should it be placed in my /home directory?? I want to learn to install those programs instead of just using apt-get or rpm files.
I mostly use following in terminal to install those files.. ex: ./configure xxx then make xxx and make install xxx.
xxx being the name of the file.
any help is appreciated. This site rocks!! I have used *Nix for a few years now off and on and learning a lot. Unfortuately, I am forced to use Win2K for some programs that wont work in *nix.
Also, I am trying Wine again.. haven't been successful using that proggy either.

[serz]

Yes, in your home directory (/home/user) would be fine.

Compiling Software (http://www.justlinux.com/nhf/Software//Compiling_Software.html)

[dkeav]

you can install applications into your home directory, however if you have root access you should probably install the application as world readable, become super user before you run make install to do that, and follow the instructions in the link serz posted for you