problem installing packages from terminal

Hi Simon, 

Thanks for the very comprehensive explanation... I am new to OSX and to
a number of things done the R.app way.

You don't need to - in fact it's not recommended to enable the root  
user on OS X and it's completely unnecessary, because you should be  
using sudo with the same effect without potentially hazardous side- 
effects of enabling root.

I am a Linux user at work (and I sysadmin for myself as well), and the
more Linux/Unix like in behaviour I can make OSX the better. The fact
that I have administrative privileges is something I find pretty weird.

Cheers,

Federico

Federico C. F. Calboli
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
Imperial College, St Mary's Campus
Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG

Tel  +44 (0)20 7594 1602     Fax (+44) 020 7594 3193

f.calboli [.a.t] imperial.ac.uk
f.calboli [.a.t] gmail.com