In your case, I'm going to recommend Ubuntu because it'll pretty much fill all the bits you mentioned above. If you would like something slightly closer to Windows, Kubuntu (KDE) ['slightly closer to Windows' is not praising Kubuntu, 'cause KDE is horrible]. If you want hardcore minimal, Xubuntu (XFCE; my preference next to using just the awesome [that's its name] window manager). However, unless you know what the others include, go with the default desktop version of Ubuntu.
Graphics support on laptops is improved these days, but you still may not be able to get all the pretty effects that, for example, I get (I run it under Wubi, so I'm cheating). However, all those really pretty effects are really annoying, so you'd probably turn them off after five minutes of going 'ooo, neat.'
Graphics support on laptops is improved these days, but you still may not be able to get all the pretty effects that, for example, I get (I run it under Wubi, so I'm cheating). However, all those really pretty effects are really annoying, so you'd probably turn them off after five minutes of going 'ooo, neat.'