TA-Linux is a hybrid source/binary distribution that defaults to a very small and compact installation that can later be adapted for whatever it needs to be: server, workstation or desktop. This the most important goal of TA-Linux. The other, almost as important, being support for as many different Linux supported architectures.
The core component, Collection, is what makes this possible. The Collection is a package building and installation system that automatically generates a package with your own settings and optimizations. More information can be found on on the Collection page and in the TA-Linux Wiki.
TA-Linux is a source based distribution, but with the option to install ready made binary packages. And (at this time) the core packages are installed in binary form. In the future there will be an option to re-build at installation time.
We like the command line so this is not a no-CLI-ever type of distribution, so if you are looking for an easy to install and ready to use desktop GUI distribution then you are looking at the wrong distribution, sorry. Only a minimal amount of auto configuration of devices is done using udev, it's up to the user to configure the system in a way he likes it.
TA-Linux is for users that like to tweak their system and be the one who says how things should look, TA-Linux tries very hard not to force any policy other than what's really necessary for a functional system.
Network profiles are supported, so the system can adapt itself to different configurations, so for example using you laptop at work with wireless and at home with Ethernet is easy.
Wireless LAN is fully supported by the basic installation, so if you're wireless card is supported by the kernel then you should be up and running straight away.