asus aspire linux: how to attach a digicam?

"First of all, there is a question of whether you'd like to attach your camera as a camera or as a USB drive to get to your photos. Ensure that your camera is set to the proper mode (depends on the camera, check your manual). Plug your camera and check with dmesg if your system detected and configured modules for you.

Possible scenarios:

you'd like to use your camera as a camera and Linux doesn't recognize your camera. Based on dmesg output (compare dmesg before and after plugging the device), search if there is a kernel module for your camera and if there is, check what package on your distro provides it.
you'd like to use your camera as a camera and Linux recognized your device properly - check if you have been granted with proper privileges (e.g. on Arch Linux, one cannot use a camera if the user doesn't belong to the proper group).
you'd like to use your camera as a USB drive but Linux doesn't recognize your device - I have never came across this situation with a working device.
you'd like to use your camera as a USB drive and Linux does recognize your device - check if your device appeared in /dev (new sdX entry). If that is the case, try to mount it manually."

It appears there is no application installed or configured to automatically launch on connection of the camera. Use gPhoto2, Picasa3 or some similar photo management application to import the photos.