On Nov 11, 2006, at 5:24 PM, Geert Stappers wrote:
Op 08-11-2006 om 20:09 schreef Olaf van der Spek:Also, no NTP synchronization is available by default. I really think Debian should install.Maybe install but disable, although I'd prefer it to be enabled by default.The Debian-installer installs by default the packages with priority "standard". Cheers Geert Stappers Who thinks it is stupid to install NTP by default.
Installing ntp by default (making it have priority "standard") would be good for the many Debian users who have always-on network access. But it would be a problem for the minority who have no or only intermittent (e.g. dial-up) network access.
An argument in favor of making it "standard" is that it would greatly improve the overall state of timekeeping on the internet. This is of not just a "time-geek" issue. Better time distribution has lots of practical advantages.
An argument in favor of leaving it optional is that requiring people without good network access to install in "expert" mode (to avoid getting ntp installed) is an imposition on a class of users who are individually more likely to be non-experts.
I leave it to the PTBs to figure out whether there is a compromise position.
Rick