Does Warty need modutils ?

[Kent Frazier]

> ubuntu-base is only a meta-package.  It is actually harmless to remove
> it, and will not remove and functionality of your system.

This is true, except that when later upgrades come along, the devs
introduce new programs and changes in old ones through these
metapackages.  For instance, if you upgrade from Warty to Hoary and
don't have the ubuntu-desktop metapackage (due to installing
totem-xine or what have you), you will not be switched over to X.org. 
I think the same holds true for the change to the UTF-8 locales. 
Basically, before any large upgrades, its a good idea to make sure the
metapackages are installed, or at least to see what they would install
if they were, and then install what you want manually.

Kent