Do I understand this comparison correctly?
The /usr/local/bin folder is much like the Window explorer programs folder? That this is where programs should be installed and each into their own folder? And that each user on this box has their own /usr/local/bin so that each user may have andor run apps that the other user cannot access? Wouldn't that cause excessive use of disk space if several users had the same progs and each their own installment?
One other thing..Someone told me long ago it was a bad idea to smoke around a Windows computer. Is it ok to keep my ashtray filled next to a Linux box?
LOL Afterall..I like to combine my bad habits all into one so as to keep track of them.

Close, but not quite. /usr/local is where most programs should be installed (not /usr/local/bin). The bin directory is where the executable part of the program goes and there really shouldn't be separate directories for each program in there - they should just be lumped together.

There aren't separate /usr/local directories for each user, because, as you noted, it would be a waste of space. If a normal user installs something for their own use (as opposed to root installing it for everyone's use) it should generally go into their home directory (/home/[user's name]) in whatever fashion they prefer.

Thank you very much!
I'm sure this group will hear from me again soon.
I hope I don't offend any hardcore Linux users by trying to compare Windows to Linux. As it stands now, this is about the only way I can make sense of things given my mush brain and all ya know. lol

Pilerock