How to install rpm and tar.gz files?

[cabal2000]

Hey there people.
I can't seem to figure out how to install rpm files or tarballs. Is there a simple way of installing them? In windows you just double click and done but I have been to several different sites trying to figure it out but its over my head. Is there a complete idiots guide to do this?

[Pumalite]

RPM's are not for Ubuntu. tar.gz; you can unpack and then install:
http://monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/

[geraldvillorente]

rpm packages are for rpm-based(like fedora and redhat) OS only...ubuntu and kubuntu are debian-based..

[logos34]

if there's no ubuntu pkg avail and you don't want to compile from source, you can convert .rpm to .deb using alien:

sudo apt-get install alien

just another option for you