USB support on Linux Mint

Okay, it may be because my brain isn't functioning properly, but I tried to hook my Venue 8 7840 to my Linux Mint laptop and was told that USB support is for Windows or Mac. Huh?

Excuse me, but I thought Android was a Linux system. You're not really going to tell me that I can't hook my Linux tablet up to my Linux laptop, because Dell tablets only support Windows or Mac, are you? This is ridiculous.