As you may be aware SQL Server installation (70 & 2000) will automatically install the sample databases pubs and northwind, if you aren't using them or not a training institute then simply drop them.
Whereas this behaviour is changed in SQL Server 2005 as the Northwind and pubs sample databases are not installed by default in Microsoft SQL Server 2005. These databases can be downloaded from this MSDownload-site. Say do you have such need to install those sample databases, if not then simply ignore them. Also if you are using C# development then most of the samples and usage of C# 2005 Express uses the Northwind sample database.
But on the development platform I suggest to install them in order to get acquaintance with Analysis Services & Reporting Services samples, also you can install AdventureWorks and AdvetureWorksDS databases. These are the new sample databases for SQL Server 2005, they can be download from here. BOL confirms that:
The scripts for creating these sample databases have been updated to remove the guest account to improve security. The pubs installation script has been updated to include all of the data for the database, eliminating the requirement to run separate jobs to add data after creating pubs.
As you might have seen BOL code examples are mainly based on AdventureWorks and pubs, so if you are a learner iN SQL SErver then do not attempt to drop them from your development envrionment or download and install them.
IMHO, drop them from your Production server and retain them on Development servers.
