I'm considering using linux for working with every file in mswindows and have made a dualboot ntfs/ext4 drive c. I've narrowed down the choice between distros for efficient alternative to winxp or win7 and currently using antix. The dates in win7 are okay even in dst but the unix os doesn't handle timestamp via api. Is there any way to preserve normal file usage in linux or should I choose a different os (up to date)? Mind you an ubuntu derivative is preferable for getting online by all standards.

Hello and welcome to LQ.

Not exactly sure what you have but linux tends to work well with NTFS. There isn't a huge reason to fear using it for most things.
If you fully want to preserve metadata you might consider compression means too. The lowly zip program should save the unique data and usually has a mini crc in it.

Some of the backup programs needed for windows will also compress to some file format but they also may need mapped drives or isci attached mounted drives. Both are somewhat easy on most distro's.

There are some dedicated distros made to replicate a nas.

MSTux

About 1 year ago I switched my dual booting laptop from using Windows XP for about 98% of my work to using Linux (various) for about 98%. The key issues I had to deal with concerned "date modified" and file searches. Currently my top 4 file managers would be Xfe, Caja, PCManFM and Windows Explorer (XP). Each has its strengths and weaknesses, but in many ways I find that Windows Explorer sets a standard the others have yet to reach. I could write a page or two on all the little details I have discovered, but it might be better if you ask specific questions and I attempt to provide helpful answers.

Deja Vu. I first used linux in the form of a live session using knoppix. Since then the KDE (3) ui was what I came to expect using linux. Tough, coming back it should be noted that somebody needs to retouch it because it can be too cluttered at times. I needed to tweak many options to turn it to its traditional look. That's basically it in terms of the overall gui.
To be more specific about my main question, across all distros I find it hard to look for an option to turn on/off the daylight saving time (dst). In windows 7 formatted with ntfs partition it displayed its original time of file, tough, with fat32 it only did so to files on local time.
Also worth mentioning is how it boils down to MS don't support windows vista/7 so I'll have to use an updated os without ubuntu gui change. Linux is becoming used more and more.
Thank you for the two replies so far.