Many people, myself included, think that if you are new to Java you oughtn't to use Eclipse. You have enough to learn with Java without having to learn Eclipse as well. Leave the IDEs until you are more experienced.
But if you insist on using Eclipse, try Campbell's cheat technique, which I have only got to work on Windows.
Make sure you have the Java PATH set up correctly; you should be able to write java -version at any command prompt and get a sensible reply, preferably 1.6.0_05.Create a suitable folder to put the downloaded Eclipse file in.Unzip EclipseFind the eclipse.exe icon, which is round and blue.Right-drag it onto the desktop and release the mouse.Click either "copy here" or "make shortcut here"You now have a round blue icon on the desktop. Double-click that.Most likely reason you aren't getting it to work: you haven't set up the PATH for your Java installation. Find the
installation instructions (here for Windows) and go down to the bit about setting the PATH. Probably easiest to set it permanently.
CR
[edit: bit added]If "copy here" doesn't work try "make shortcut" and
vice versa.[/edit]
[ March 22, 2008: Message edited by: Campbell Ritchie ]