Distro recs for experienced user?

I've been using linux for about eight years, but the last few years I haven't been very experimental - just using xubuntu, debian, and linux mint debian edition. I had to replace my laptop hard drive a few months ago, and as I needed something that "just worked" ASAP for work, i threw xubuntu on it. I've finally got the time to set up something better, and I'm looking for recommendations. Here are the constraints:

Must have kernel >=3.0 (preferably >=3.2). My wireless card depends on a driver (rt2800pci) that was only included in mainline from 3.0 on.

Must be binary-, not source-based (laptop is too wimpy to compile things)

Must be able to integrate with my existing user account, which is on a separate encrypted /home partition. The encryption was done using the default *ubuntu service (ecryptfs, I think?). IOW, this install will replace the separate / partition that xubuntu 12.04 is currently installed on, but my home directory will remain as-is. /boot is its own partition as well.

I'd prefer a distro whose install isn't too convoluted, as I am traveling and spending a couple of days just getting the base system installed isn't ideal. I'm looking for something fast (xubuntu is slow as hell for me), lightweight, yet not time-consuming to get semi-functioning because "hurr minimalism".

I'm relatively experienced with linux (have compiled my own kernels and such), but that was years ago, when I had more free time.

If you need any more information, I would be happy to provide it. Thanks!

PS Laptop is HP Pavilion dm1, AMD Catalyst processor with integrated ATI graphics.

If your use to apt-get then you really just install debian and then use LXDE or fluxbox if you want to get really lightweight.

seriously, try fedora!

Gentoo

Arch. If it's too much for you, just stick with Debian.

Arch, definitely. It has less abstraction than Debian, so it's easier to see what's going on. But a minimal Debian install is as close as Debian gets to achieving what Arch has.

Haven't tried Gentoo yet but I've read it's good for advanced users too. I'm just more into speed (Arch) than customizability (Gentoo) when it comes to applications.

http://www.thewebcomiclist.com/o/8538

Gentoo

All those posting "GENTOO GENTOO GENTOO":

>Must be binary-, not source-based (laptop is too wimpy to compile things)

   (laptop is too wimpy to compile things)

Even my Toshiba 80286 can compile its own Minix shit.

I've been using linux for about eight years
but I'm still massively computer illiterate
Should I go with Vista, 7, or 8?

crunchbang

hello

Slackware is a "just works" distro that is known for stability, but requires you to do a lot of your own admin.
Arch is everyone's favourite punchbag, but is minimal and quick. It tends to be a bit too bleeding edge for people though. My current, but will soon be switching to Slack (tired of the thing breaking). Also has a slightly confusing install, but excellent documentation for it on the wiki (which actually has great documentation in general, but you'll need it to fix all the problems)
You already mentioned Debian, but the stable version ain't bad.
Slightly off-target, but if you don't mind moving away from linux, FreeBSD is a monster of stability and also has excellent documentation on the distro's site.

http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/precise-5.4.1/precise-5.4.1.iso

Is a quirky from the Ubuntu 12.04.1 distro good?

Try windows 7 with any and every distro you'd like to run under vmware playa'

Windows 7 will not drain your battery or overheat your ati graphics like any other alternative except OSX, while vmware will let you run any junk you wanna.

>1
Slackware

I'm quite fond of Arch Linux w/ MATE.